William Peyton Hubbard
Encyclopedia
William Peyton Hubbard City of Toronto Alderman
from 1894 to 1914, was a popular and influential politician, of particular historical note as the city's first politician of African descent.
via the Underground Railroad
. He became a baker
by trade, and one well-known for his strong political opinions. Armed with a sharp wit and a powerful oratory skills, and encouraged by the mentorship of George Brown
that began when Hubbard rescued Brown from nearly drowning in the Don River, he eventually found his way into politics.
Hubbard was known for his strong sense of public duty, and made a name for himself fighting the privatization of Toronto's water and hydroelectric supplies. He was elected to the powerful Toronto Board of Control
in 1904 and topped the polls in the city-wide election to the Board in 1906. He was re-elected in 1907 but defeated in 1908.
Hubbard was the first visible minority -- and the first black citizen -- to be elected to public office, at either the local, provincial, or federal level, in a Canadian city. (While two black councillors had been elected in local elections prior to Hubbard, both were from smaller towns with populations of less than 4,000 each. Indeed, one of them was on Vancouver Island which at the time was still a British colony -- since British Columbia had not yet joined Confederation and was not yet a part of Canada).
area of the city building a home that he would spend his remaining days in until he died at the age of 93. Coincidentally, the alderman dubbed the Grand Old Man by Toronto press in his political days, serving well into his 70s, was the quite literally the oldest man in the city for a short period before his death.
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
from 1894 to 1914, was a popular and influential politician, of particular historical note as the city's first politician of African descent.
Early years
Born in Toronto, Hubbard was the son of American slaves who escaped to CanadaCanada
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...
via the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. He became a baker
Baker
A baker is someone who bakes and sells bread, Cakes and similar foods may also be produced, as the traditional boundaries between what is produced by a baker as opposed to a pastry chef have blurred in recent decades...
by trade, and one well-known for his strong political opinions. Armed with a sharp wit and a powerful oratory skills, and encouraged by the mentorship of George Brown
George Brown (Canadian politician)
George Brown was a Scottish-born Canadian journalist, politician and one of the Fathers of Confederation...
that began when Hubbard rescued Brown from nearly drowning in the Don River, he eventually found his way into politics.
City politics
He was first elected in 1894 in a quiet, tree-lined ward of grand homes that happened to be one of the wealthiest and whitest wards in the city (encompassing an area between University Avenue and Bathurst Street).Hubbard was known for his strong sense of public duty, and made a name for himself fighting the privatization of Toronto's water and hydroelectric supplies. He was elected to the powerful Toronto Board of Control
Toronto Board of Control
Toronto Board of Control was a part of the municipal government of Toronto, Canada from 1904 until its abolition in 1969 and served as the executive committee of Toronto City Council. It consisted of four councillors elected city wide and was presided over by the mayor. Each voter could vote for up...
in 1904 and topped the polls in the city-wide election to the Board in 1906. He was re-elected in 1907 but defeated in 1908.
Hubbard was the first visible minority -- and the first black citizen -- to be elected to public office, at either the local, provincial, or federal level, in a Canadian city. (While two black councillors had been elected in local elections prior to Hubbard, both were from smaller towns with populations of less than 4,000 each. Indeed, one of them was on Vancouver Island which at the time was still a British colony -- since British Columbia had not yet joined Confederation and was not yet a part of Canada).
Retirement and death
Losing an election in 1915, Hubbard retired to the RiverdaleRiverdale, Toronto
Riverdale is a large neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is bounded by the Don River Valley to the west, Danforth Avenue and Greektown to the north, Jones Avenue, the CN/GO tracks, and Leslieville to the east, and Lake Shore Boulevard to the south....
area of the city building a home that he would spend his remaining days in until he died at the age of 93. Coincidentally, the alderman dubbed the Grand Old Man by Toronto press in his political days, serving well into his 70s, was the quite literally the oldest man in the city for a short period before his death.
External links
- (pdf) - backgrounder for Award named in his honour
- William Peyton Hubbard (1842-1935), ‘Old Cicero’ was Toronto’s first black city councillor - Sceneandheard.ca - undated
- OBHO: William P. Hubbard - Canada's Digital Collections
- Biography of William Peyton Hubbard on Torontopedia.ca
- March 2011 Toronto Star article on William Hubbard by Mark Maloney
- Toronto History – Old Cicero, the last Grand Old Man