Sir John Stephen Willison 1856-1927

There are two plaques about this gentleman.
Both can be seen on this page.

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted October, 2004

Photo Source - Wikipedia

Plaque Location

The County of Huron
The Municipality of Bluewater
In Zurich, on the north side of Main Street (Road 84)
3 buildings east of Goshen Street

Coordinates: N 43 25.283 W 81 37.398

Plaque Text

One of Canada's most influential political journalists and a strong advocate of the Imperial Federation movement, Willison was born on a farm about 6.5 kilometres northeast of here. He began his career in 1881 with the London Advertiser. Two years later, he joined the Toronto Globe and in 1890 was appointed chief editor of that newspaper. In 1902, he resigned to become editor of the independent Toronto Daily News (1902-1917) and in 1910 was named Canadian correspondent of the London Times. Willison was knighted in 1913 for his contribution to journalism. His many written works include a notable biography of Sir Wilfred Laurier.

Photos by contributor Colin Old - Posted January, 2012

Plaque Location

The County of Huron
The Town of Goderich
In a corridor outside the former Council Chambers
on the 2nd Floor of the Huron County Courthouse

Coordinates: N 43 44.562 W 81 42.669

Plaque Text

Born at Hills Green, Willison, as editor of the Toronto Globe (1890-1902), made it the most influential organ of Liberalism in Canada. Disenchanted with the policies of the Laurier ministry, he resigned from the Globe in 1902 and took over the independent Toronto News. His support of the Conservatives in the election of 1911 lost him his Liberal readers and the News ceased publication in 1917, Willison becoming Canadian correspondent for the London Times. Among his several books, Sir Wilfrid Laurier and the Liberal Party (1903; rev. ed. 1926) is generally considered to be the most significant. He died in Toronto.

Related Ontario plaque
Laurier House

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