John Willson (politician)
John Willson (August 5, 1776 – May 26, 1860) was a judge and political figure in Upper Canada. Born in New Jersey, he moved to the Niagara region around 1789 and settled in Saltfleet Township to farm by 1797.
In 1809 he was elected to the 5th Parliament of Upper Canada for the West riding of York County in a by-election. He supported reform and voted against suspending habeas corpus during the War of 1812. He helped bring in the Common Schools Bill, which provided public support for elementary education. Later he became more conservative, but he still looked after farmers’ interests. In 1832 he backed a bill to use the clergy reserves proceeds for education.
Willson held several public offices: he became a justice of the peace in the Gore District in 1811, a district court judge in 1838, and a member of the Legislative Council in 1839. He also served as commissioner for the Burlington Bay and Welland Canals.
He died in Saltfleet Township in 1860 at age 83. His great-great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Bradford Holbrook (1913–2009), was a leading Canadian portrait sculptor, and in 1986 he was inducted into the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 14:13 (CET).