Thomas Urquhart (politician)
| Thomas Urquhart | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 32nd Mayor of Toronto | |
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In office 1903–1905 |
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| Preceded by | Oliver Howland |
| Succeeded by | Emerson Coatsworth |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 16, 1858 Wallacetown, Dunwich Township, Elgin County, Ontario |
| Died | February 16, 1931 (aged 72) Toronto, Ontario |
| Occupation | Tailor, lawyer |
Thomas Urquhart (April 16, 1858 – February 16, 1931) was a Canadian politician and mayor of Toronto.
Born in Wallacetown, Dunwich Township, Elgin County, Ontario, a son to Alexander Cameron Urquhart and Sarah McCallum, he attended public school in Wallacetown until 13 years of age and then spent years working with his father, a pioneer tailor and storekeeper in Wallacetown, who, born in Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland, came to Canada in 1847.
At 21, he was appointed municipal clerk of the Township of Dunwich, and later became secretary of the Agricultural Society of West Elgin and secretary of the West Elgin Reform Association. He decided to enter law, and after passing the matriculation examination in 1881, he entered a law office in St. Thomas. In 1882 he entered a second law as a student. In 1886, he graduated from Osgoode Hall as barrister and solicitor, and entered into different partnerships over the next many years. One partnership was with his brother Daniel Urquhart.
He took a strong role in civic affairs, and was elected alderman in Toronto’s Ward 4 in 1900 and re-elected in 1901-1902, prior to being elected to the mayor’s chair for three successive years. Thomas was elected mayor in 1903 over Oliver Howland and Daniel Lamb. In 1904 he was re-elected by acclamation, and in 1905 he defeated George Horace Gooderham.
A strong Liberal, he was chosen by his party to contest the riding of West Toronto for the legislature against Hon. Thomas Crawford. In 1904, he contested the riding of North Toronto for Parliament against Sir George Foster. In 1906, he ran unsuccessfully against W. K. McNaught.
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