PROCEEDINGS FOR 1919 V 



JOHN ROSS ROBERTSON . 



John Ross Robertson was born at Toronto on December 28, 1841. 

 He was the son of John Robertson, a successful merchant of Toronto, 

 and Margaret, daughter of Hector Sinclair, Stornoway, Island of 

 Lewis, Scotland. He was educated at Upper Canada College. During 

 his student years he occupied his leisure in acquiring a knowledge of 

 the printer's craft and established the College Times, the first pioneer 

 schoolboy organ of the Dominion, which was issued from his father's 

 house, and he obtained an extensive knowledge of the business of 

 printing and publishing at the offices and workshops of established 

 Toronto newspapers. In 1861 he established a newspaper called the 

 Sporting Life, which developed into a journal called the Grumbler, 

 a satirical weekly paper. 



In 1866 he founded the Daily Telegraph, which gained a high 

 reputation among the newspapers of Canada during the five years of 

 its existence. 



Mr. Robertson then spent three years in London, England, as a 

 business representative and correspondent of the Toronto Globe. 

 His varied experience had given him a very fliU knowledge of publishing 

 conditions and newspaper opportunities, and in 1876 he founded the 

 Evening Telegram, financially assisted by Mr. Goldwin Smith. The 

 paper was immediately successful, and Mr. Robertson succeeded in 

 developing it into a newspaper of great interest and usefulness. The 

 financial success of his paper enabled, him to indulge his passion for 

 historical collections. His valuable compilations dealing with the 

 early history of Toronto and the Province of Ontario, entitled him, 

 in the opinion of the Fellows of the Royal Society, to election as a 

 Fellow; in 1914 he was admitted, and until his death he continued in 

 active membership in the Society. 



His interest in public affairs naturally led him into politics and 

 for four years, from 1896-1900, he sat in the Dominion House of 

 Commons for East Toronto. Tliere was hardly an^^ measure to his 

 public service, and as years went by honours were offered him which 

 he did not accept, but which he no doubt valued as evidences of the 

 appreciation of his fellow citizens. In 1907 he was offered a Knight- 

 hood and a seat in the Senate. 



His historical work and his eagerness to accumulate minute details 

 of the early life of the country had brought him into association with 

 our Society, but his highest claims to the gratitude of his countrymen 

 were his great public spirit and his well-considered philanthropy. 



The greatest item of that manifold service was his untiring 

 ministry to suffering childhood. The Hospital for Sick Children, 



