Open Collections

[between 1870 and 1929]

1 bookplate : wood engraving ; 7.6 x 10.8 cm

John Ross Robertson was born in Toronto on December 28, 1841. He worked as a reporter and city editor at The Globe and then co-founded The Telegraph in 1866, and after its failure, founded the Toronto Evening Telegram. The success of the latter made Robertson one of Canada's first press barons with significant political influence. In 1896, he was elected as MP for Toronto East as an Independent Conservative. He was president of the Ontario Hockey Assocation from 1899-1905 and was president of the Toronto Press Club. An active member of the Masonic order, in 1890 he was elected grand master of the Grand Lodge of Canada, and in 1902 was honored by King Edward VII with the rank of past grand warden of England. a passionate philanthropist for children's charities since the death of his young daughter in 1883, he left an endowment to the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children. An avid collector of books, maps, pictures, and other literary items, he bequeathed his book collection to the Toronto Public Library ; Robertson died on May 31, 1918. In 1947, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
References:
1) 'John Robertson.' Masonic Dictionary Online. Accessed January 27, 2011. http://www.masonicdictionary.com/robertson.html
2) 'John Ross Robertson.' Wikipedia. Accessed January 27, 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ross_Robertson
3) 'John Ross Robertson.' Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online. Accessed January 27, 2011. http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?BioId=41796

2011

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