George Turner Orton
Encyclopedia
George Turner Orton was a physician and political figure in Ontario
, Canada. He represented Wellington Centre
in the Canadian House of Commons
from 1874 to 1887 as a Liberal-Conservative.
He was born in Guelph
, Ontario
, the son of Dr. Henry Orton, who came to Upper Canada
from England, and Mary Jerram. He studied medicine at the College of Surgeons in Dublin and the University of St Andrews
in Scotland
. After practicing in England
, Orton returned to Ancaster, Ontario
where he set up practice with his brother T.J. Orton, later moving to Fergus
. He served as surgeon for the county militia. Orton ran unsuccessfully for a federal seat in 1872. In 1883, he moved to Winnipeg
. Orton was surgeon for a brigade which served during the North-West Rebellion
. He also served as medical officer for the Canadian Pacific Railway
and coroner for British Columbia
. Orton married Ann Farmer. He was defeated in a bid for reelection in 1887. Orton also served as reeve for Fergus. In 1888, he was named medical officer for the federal Department of Indian Affairs. He died in Winnipeg
at the age of 64.
The community of Orton, Ontario was named in his honour.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada. He represented Wellington Centre
Wellington Centre
Wellington Centre was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1904. It was located in the province of Ontario....
in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
from 1874 to 1887 as a Liberal-Conservative.
He was born in Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, the son of Dr. Henry Orton, who came to Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
from England, and Mary Jerram. He studied medicine at the College of Surgeons in Dublin and the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. After practicing in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Orton returned to Ancaster, Ontario
Ancaster, Ontario
Ancaster is a picturesque and historic community located on the Niagara escarpment, within the greater area of the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This former town was founded officially in 1793 and was one of the oldest European communities established in present day Ontario along with Windsor...
where he set up practice with his brother T.J. Orton, later moving to Fergus
Fergus, Ontario
Fergus is the largest community in Centre Wellington, a township within Wellington County in Ontario, Canada. It lies on the Grand River about 25 km north of Guelph.-History:...
. He served as surgeon for the county militia. Orton ran unsuccessfully for a federal seat in 1872. In 1883, he moved to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. Orton was surgeon for a brigade which served during the North-West Rebellion
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
. He also served as medical officer for the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
and coroner for British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Orton married Ann Farmer. He was defeated in a bid for reelection in 1887. Orton also served as reeve for Fergus. In 1888, he was named medical officer for the federal Department of Indian Affairs. He died in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
at the age of 64.
The community of Orton, Ontario was named in his honour.