John Hallam (alderman)
Canadian merchant
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John Hallam (1833–1900) was a merchant, and alderman, living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is best known for being the prior owner of Chorley Park, a large estate, that backed on to the valley of the Don River, acquired after his death, on which was constructed an opulent official residence for the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.[2][3]
John Hallam | |
|---|---|
| Born | Chorley, Lancashire, UK |
| Died | Toronto |
| Occupations | Merchant, Alderman |
| Known for | After his death one of his properties was turned into Ontario's most opulent vice-regal residence |
He was born in Chorley, Lancashire, UK, and started work in a calico print mill at the age of seven. He emigrated to Canada in 1856.[4] In 1882, Alderman Hallam prepared a report for Toronto city council on free libraries.[5] In 1883 Hallam championed a ballot initiative that authorized the city to start providing a free library service.[6]
In 1894, The New York Times noted that Hallam was a prominent Toronto resident backing a plan to build a canal from Collingwood, Ontario, on Lake Huron, to Toronto.[7] The New York Times described this canal as representing competition to New York state's Erie Canal and Oswego Canal.
In 1896 Hallam stood in for mayor Robert Fleming, and introduced a mock Parliament, that debated whether men should have the vote.[8] The event was a fund-raiser for the women's suffrage movement.