John Fisher Wood
Encyclopedia
John Fisher Wood, PC
, QC
(October 12, 1852 – March 14, 1899) was an Ontario
businessman, lawyer and politician. He represented Brockville
in the Canadian House of Commons
as a Liberal-Conservative from 1882 to 1899.
He was born in Addison in Canada West in 1852 (some sources say 1850), the son of a Scottish
immigrant. He taught school in Farmersville (Athens
). He later studied law with Christopher Finlay Fraser
in Brockville
, was called to the bar in 1876 and set up practice in Brockville. In 1890, he was named Queen's Counsel
. He served as solicitor for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville
and was also vice-president of the Brockville, Westport and Sault Ste. Marie Railway. In 1882, he was elected to the House of Commons. He was deputy speaker in the House from 1890 to 1891. From 1892 to 1895, he served as Controller of Inland Revenue; he served as Controller of Customs from 1895 to 1896. Controllers were government ministers, but not members of the cabinet
. Wood was part of the "nest of traitors" who forced Mackenzie Bowell
to resign as Prime Minister in 1896.
He died in Toronto in 1899 of heart failure.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(October 12, 1852 – March 14, 1899) was an 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....
businessman, lawyer and politician. He represented Brockville
Brockville (electoral district)
Brockville was a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1917. It was created by the British North America Act of 1867....
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...
as a Liberal-Conservative from 1882 to 1899.
He was born in Addison in Canada West in 1852 (some sources say 1850), the son of a Scottish
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...
immigrant. He taught school in Farmersville (Athens
Athens, Ontario
Athens is a township in Eastern Ontario, Canada. It is located approximately 25 km north of the St. Lawrence River, near Brockville, west of Addison, and about 90 km south west of Ottawa....
). He later studied law with Christopher Finlay Fraser
Christopher Finlay Fraser
Christopher Finlay Fraser was an Ontario lawyer and political figure. He represented Grenville South in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1872 to 1879 and Brockville from 1879 to 1894....
in Brockville
Brockville, Ontario
Brockville is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada, in the Thousand Islands region. Though it serves as the seat of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Brockville is politically independent and is grouped with Leeds and Grenville for census purposes only.Known as the "City of the 1000...
, was called to the bar in 1876 and set up practice in Brockville. In 1890, he was named Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. He served as solicitor for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville
Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario
The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville are located Ontario, Canada. The population, as of the 2006 census, was 99,206. The United Counties have a land area of . Leeds and Grenville are located in the subregion of Southern Ontario named Eastern Ontario, and front on the St. Lawrence River and...
and was also vice-president of the Brockville, Westport and Sault Ste. Marie Railway. In 1882, he was elected to the House of Commons. He was deputy speaker in the House from 1890 to 1891. From 1892 to 1895, he served as Controller of Inland Revenue; he served as Controller of Customs from 1895 to 1896. Controllers were government ministers, but not members of the cabinet
Cabinet of Canada
The Cabinet of Canada is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada...
. Wood was part of the "nest of traitors" who forced Mackenzie Bowell
Mackenzie Bowell
Sir Mackenzie Bowell, PC, KCMG was a Canadian politician who served as the fifth Prime Minister of Canada from December 21, 1894 to April 27, 1896.-Early life:Bowell was born in Rickinghall, Suffolk, England to John Bowell and Elizabeth Marshall...
to resign as Prime Minister in 1896.
He died in Toronto in 1899 of heart failure.