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McMurrich, William Barclay,
M.A., Toronto, was born at the city just named, on the 1st of November,
1842. He is the eldest son of the late Hon. John McMurrich and Janet
Dickson. His father came from Renfrewshire, and his mother from
Lanarkshire, in Scotland. The McMurrichs are a branch of the clan Chattan,
and formerly the bards of the clans, transmitting the traditions from
generation to generation. John McMurrich engaged in business for a time in
Glasgow, and came to this country in 1835. His mercantile and political
career is well known. He established three mercantile houses - one at
Hamilton, one at Kingston, and one at Toronto - but he was mainly known by
his long connection with the Toronto house, of which he remained a partner
until hsi death, on the 13th February, 1883. William Barclay McMurrich is
names after the Rev. Dr. Barclay, who was pastor of the old St. Andrew's
church, then situated on Adelaide street. His early education was obtained
at the Grammar school, at the corner of Jarvis and Richmond streets, and
at Knox Academy, situated on the present site of the Queen's Hotel.
Subsequently he studied in the Upper Canada College, where he showed many
marks of proficiency, and afterwards matriculated at Toronto University.
He applied himself to the study of the natural sciences, and was golf
medalist in 1863; and four years later obtained his M.A. degree. Mr.
McMurrich then studied law in John Leys' office, and was called to the bar
in 1866; after which he entered into a partnership with Mr. Leys for the
practice of law, which partnership continued until 1874, when the firm of
McMurrich, Howard & Drayton, of which he is the head, was formed. The
latter have since retired, the firm now being McMurrich & Urquhart. In
1868 Mr. McMurrich first sought the public confidence of his fellow
citizens, and was elected as public school trustee for St. Andrew's ward,
which position he held for nearly eight years, (being twice elected by
acclamation and twice after contests), and on resigning was appointed
solicitor to the board, which office he still holds. While a public school
trustee, besides acting on other committees, he was chairman of the sites
and building committee. In 1872, as chairman of the school board reception
committee, he obtained much credit for the successful arrangements made in
connection with Lord Dufferin's visit to the public schools. As a trustee
he took an active interest in providing education for the large number of
children then wandering at large in our streets, and preparing for lives
of sin and crime. He visited New York and Massachusetts, and investigated
the working of the industrial schools in those states; and, on returning,
prepared a minute report, which was adopted by the board. As a result of
his labours, the old House of Refuge and six acres of land were secured
for the purpose of making an experiment in Toronto. Complications,
however, afterwards arising, prevented his scheme being carried out. While
on the board he was also instrumental in procuring a standing committee on
printing and supplies, and in having taken steps for the formation of a
free public library, which has since become an accomplished fact. In 1879
Mr. McMurrich was a candidate for aldermanic honours in St. Patrick's
ward, and received the largest majority ever given to a councillor in this
city. He at once took a leading part in civic affairs, and was appointed
chairman of the court of revision. During that year the Marquis of Lorne
and Princess Louise visited the city, and Mr. McMurrich very successfully
discharged the duties of chairman of the reception committee. The
following year he was returned by acclamation, and received the highest
offices in the gift of the council, namely, that of representative of the
city on the Northern Railway board of directors, and of chairman of the
executive committee. While in the council he devoted considerable
attention to the "local improvement" system, which has been advocated for
years by the city press, and in furtherance of the project visited a
number of American cities where the system is in vogue. He made several
reports to the council on the subject, and that body ultimately adopted a
scheme which is giving every satisfaction. The next year, 1881, he was a
candidate for the position of chief magistrate of the city, and defeated
Mr. Close by a majority of 1,160 votes. His record during the first year
of his administration proved him to be one of the best mayors Toronto has
had. As mayor he drew up a manual of the City of Toronto, entirely his own
work, which was a consolidation of the Beaty and Mowat by-laws, and a
number of amendments. The financial affairs of the city by this
arrangement were placed upon such a basis that the city cannot be
defrauded except by collusion of the corporation officials from the mayor
downward. The committee of the council to whom the matter was referred
thanked the mayor for the labour which he had taken upon himself in
preparing the draft of the consolidated by-law, and placing it before them
in printed form. Mr. McMurrich has also been the means of inaugurating the
system of deposits by contractors doing work for the city, the
non-fulfilment of their contracts entailing a forfeiture of the amounts
deposited. As a reward the citizens returned him by acclamation to fill
the civic chair for a second term. Mr. McMurrich has also filled other
positions of trust in the gift of his fellow citizens. In St. Andrew's
Society, after serving as secretary, he was raised to the presidency, a
position which he occupied for two years. He is also a member of several
other societies and orders of a benevolent character. It is only just
likewise to say that the success of the Semi-Centennial celebration of the
City of Toronto was largely if not almost entirely due to the enthusiasm
and active interest of Mr. McMurrich. After the arrival of Lord Lorne in
Canada, there was a gathering of the Canadian Scottish societies to do
honour to the son of the head of the clan Campbell, and to the Princess
Louise; and Mr. McMurrich was elected grand secretary of the union. He had
the honour on this occasion of presenting the governor-general with a
sprig of myrtle, the emblem of the clan Campbell. Mr. McMurrich is a
member of the Presbyterian church, and is an elder of Knox church. He was
one of those who assisted in the formation of the West Church
Sabbath-school, and was connected with it for over twenty years, having
been superintendent for many years, succeeding his father upon his
resignation of the position. He is now superintendent of the Knox church
Sabbath-school. For many years he has been commissioner to the
Presbyterian General Assembly, and filled positions on important
committees. He married, in 1866, Miss Dewar, a daughter of the late Mr.
Plummer Dewar, of "Chedoke," Hamilton. In politics he is an independent
Liberal. At the last general election, Mr. McMurrich contested West
Toronto in his party's interest against James Beaty, Q.C., but was
defeated, the vote standing 2,714 against 2,283. As a speaker, Mr.
McMurrich is fluent, clear and forcible; and there is a grace about his
way of stating a point that is not prevalent enough among our public
speakers. It is a very safe piece of prophecy to put Mr. William Barclay
McMurrich down as a coming man. He joined the Queen's Own at the time of
the Trent affair, and was a member of the company then known as the
Victoria Rifles, under Captain Orde. He remained a member of that company
for three years. He also passed through the Military school in Toronto,
and attended the camp of cadets at Laprairie in 1864. He is now a captain
of the Toronto Garrison Battery of Artillery, having been gazetted to the
command in June, 1884. He was called out for active service on the 5th of
April, 1885, and was stationed at the new fort, Toronto, being commandant
for the time being of the force quartered there. He was relieved from duty
on the 22nd June. |
