John Dryden (MLA)
Encyclopedia
John Dryden was a farmer and politician in Ontario
, Canada
.
), was a Reeve of Whitby Township, President of the Port Whitby and Port Perry Railway and a director of the Ontario Bank. Educated in nearby Whitby
, John Dryden became the manager of his father's farm, doubling its size. He also became an expert breeder of sheep, horses, and cattle, and served in a leadership role in many agricultural and animal husbandry organizations.
Dryden married Mary Lydia Holman in 1867. They had three sons (two of whom died in infancy) and five daughters.
as the Liberal
member for the provincial Ontario South riding. He served in this capacity until 1905.
In 1890, Premier Oliver Mowat
appointed Dryden Minister of Agriculture. As Minister, he oversaw reforms at the Ontario Agricultural College
and was a strong supporter of agricultural training and instruction. He implemented a program of 'travelling dairies' whereby a portable horse-drawn dairy toured rural Ontario providing instruction to farmers. He also established dairy schools at Strathroy and Kingston
. These measures were designed to improve the quality of dairy products produced in Ontario in an environment characterised by American tariffs and export challenges. Dryden remained minister through the governments of Mowat, Arthur Sturgis Hardy
and George William Ross
.
In 1895, Dryden set up an experimental farm near Wabigoon Lake
in northwestern Ontario to test the agricultural potential of the area. The farm was closed by the incoming Conservative
government after the 1905 election
, but a village in the vicinity of the farm was named after Dryden. Dryden
was incorporated as a Town in 1910. Dryden Township (now part of Greater Sudbury) is also named for the Minister.
Dryden was involved in a number of scandals during his time in office. In 1897, he appointed his brother George W. Dryden as the Registrar of Ontario County
, causing dissension among fellow Liberals also interested in the job. The Conservatives also charged that Dryden had promised the position to several people in return for monetary compensation, and Dryden sued Conservative candidate William Smith for damages. Smith was unable to prove the allegations and was forced to withdraw the charges. Politically damaged, Dryden lost his seat in the 1898 Election
. However, he refused to resign, challenged opponent Charles Calder
in the courts and won the resulting byelection. Calder protested, necessitating another byelection, with Dryden emerging again as the victor. Rumours to the effect that Dryden bribed Calder to withdraw his protest persisted and hurt him politically. He was re-elected again in the 1902 Election
but lost his seat in 1905
.
, and served as a director of the Home Mission Society and a board member of the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec
. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of Toronto Baptist College and continued to serve on the board of governors after the College became McMaster University
.
. Dryden died in 1909 and was buried in a Baptist cemetery near Brooklin.
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
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Early life
Dryden was the son of James Dryden (1820-1881), a farmer, businessman and politician. The senior Dryden owned a successful farm near Winchester (later BrooklinBrooklin, Ontario
Brooklin is a community in the Town of Whitby, Ontario, Canada. It is located,North of the urban area of Whitby,at the South junction of Ontario Highways 12 and 7....
), was a Reeve of Whitby Township, President of the Port Whitby and Port Perry Railway and a director of the Ontario Bank. Educated in nearby Whitby
Whitby, Ontario
Whitby is a town in Durham Region. Whitby is located in Southern Ontario east of Toronto on the north shore of Lake Ontario, and is home to the headquarters of Durham Region...
, John Dryden became the manager of his father's farm, doubling its size. He also became an expert breeder of sheep, horses, and cattle, and served in a leadership role in many agricultural and animal husbandry organizations.
Dryden married Mary Lydia Holman in 1867. They had three sons (two of whom died in infancy) and five daughters.
Political career
Dryden's political career began in the local arena; in 1863, he was elected to the Whitby Township council, becoming Reeve in 1869 and 1870. In 1879, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of OntarioLegislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
as the Liberal
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
member for the provincial Ontario South riding. He served in this capacity until 1905.
In 1890, Premier Oliver Mowat
Oliver Mowat
Sir Oliver Mowat, was a Canadian politician, and the third Premier of Ontario from 1872 to 1896, making him the longest serving premier of that province and the 3rd longest in all of Canadian history...
appointed Dryden Minister of Agriculture. As Minister, he oversaw reforms at the Ontario Agricultural College
Ontario Agricultural College
The Ontario Agricultural College originated at the agricultural laboratories of the Toronto Normal School, and was officially founded in 1874 as an associate agricultural college of the University of Toronto...
and was a strong supporter of agricultural training and instruction. He implemented a program of 'travelling dairies' whereby a portable horse-drawn dairy toured rural Ontario providing instruction to farmers. He also established dairy schools at Strathroy and Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
. These measures were designed to improve the quality of dairy products produced in Ontario in an environment characterised by American tariffs and export challenges. Dryden remained minister through the governments of Mowat, Arthur Sturgis Hardy
Arthur Sturgis Hardy
Arthur Sturgis Hardy, QC was a lawyer and Liberal politician who served as the fourth Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1896 to 1899. On January 19, 1870 he married Mary Morrison, daughter of Judge Joseph Curran Morrison.Hardy attended school at the Rockwood Academy in Rockwood, Ontario...
and George William Ross
George William Ross
Sir George William Ross was an educator and politician in Ontario, Canada. He was the fifth Premier of Ontario from 1899 to 1905....
.
In 1895, Dryden set up an experimental farm near Wabigoon Lake
Wabigoon Lake
Wabigoon Lake is a lake in Kenora District in northwestern Ontario, Canada. The community of Dryden is located on the north shore of the lake, and the primary inflow and outflow is the Wabigoon River...
in northwestern Ontario to test the agricultural potential of the area. The farm was closed by the incoming Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
government after the 1905 election
Ontario general election, 1905
The Ontario general election, 1905 was the 11th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on January 25, 1905, to elect the 98 Members of the 11th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ....
, but a village in the vicinity of the farm was named after Dryden. Dryden
Dryden, Ontario
Dryden is the second-largest city in the Kenora District of Northwestern Ontario, Canada, located on Wabigoon Lake. It is the smallest community in the province of Ontario designated as a city...
was incorporated as a Town in 1910. Dryden Township (now part of Greater Sudbury) is also named for the Minister.
Dryden was involved in a number of scandals during his time in office. In 1897, he appointed his brother George W. Dryden as the Registrar of Ontario County
Ontario County, Ontario
Ontario County was the name of two historic counties in the Canadian province of Ontario.The original Ontario County existed from 1792 to 1800 as part of the Eastern District, and consisted of the islands in the St. Lawrence River...
, causing dissension among fellow Liberals also interested in the job. The Conservatives also charged that Dryden had promised the position to several people in return for monetary compensation, and Dryden sued Conservative candidate William Smith for damages. Smith was unable to prove the allegations and was forced to withdraw the charges. Politically damaged, Dryden lost his seat in the 1898 Election
Ontario general election, 1898
The Ontario general election, 1898 was the ninth general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on March 1, 1898, to elect the 94 Members of the 9th Legislative Assembly of Ontario .The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Arthur S...
. However, he refused to resign, challenged opponent Charles Calder
Charles Calder
Charles Calder was an Ontario farmer and political figure. He represented Ontario South in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1898 and from 1905 to 1919 as a Conservative member....
in the courts and won the resulting byelection. Calder protested, necessitating another byelection, with Dryden emerging again as the victor. Rumours to the effect that Dryden bribed Calder to withdraw his protest persisted and hurt him politically. He was re-elected again in the 1902 Election
Ontario general election, 1902
The Ontario general election, 1902 was the tenth general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on May 29, 1902, to elect the 98 Members of the 10th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ....
but lost his seat in 1905
Ontario general election, 1905
The Ontario general election, 1905 was the 11th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on January 25, 1905, to elect the 98 Members of the 11th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ....
.
Baptist church
Dryden was an ardent BaptistBaptists in Canada
-Statistics and changes:According to the Canada 2001 Census, the number of people in Canada who identify themselves as Baptist is 729,470, about 2.5% of the population, an increase of about 10% in the 10 years since the 1991 census ....
, and served as a director of the Home Mission Society and a board member of the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec
Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec
Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec is the oldest union of Baptist churches in central Canada.In 1880 a "Baptist Union of Canada" was formed. Since the churches were located chiefly in the central provinces, the name was changed in 1888 to "Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec"...
. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of Toronto Baptist College and continued to serve on the board of governors after the College became McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
.
Later life
After his defeat, Dryden moved to Toronto and remained active. He continued his affiliation with McMaster, served as president of a number of insurance and savings companies and was appointed to an Imperial Royal Commission on agricultural conditions in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Dryden died in 1909 and was buried in a Baptist cemetery near Brooklin.