George Ralph Richardson Cockburn
Encyclopedia
George Ralph Richardson Cockburn (February 14, 1834 – January 18, 1912) was a Scottish
-born educator and political figure in Ontario
, Canada. He represented Toronto Centre
in the Canadian House of Commons
from 1887 to 1896 as a Conservative
member.
He was born in Edinburgh
and was educated in Scotland, graduating from the University of Edinburgh
and continuing his studies in Germany
. Cockburn taught in Scotland for several years. In 1834, he married Mary Zane. In 1858, he came to Canada West as rector for the Model Grammar School for Upper Canada. Cockburn was named principal for Upper Canada College
in 1861. Cockburn was unsuccessful when he ran for reelection in 1896. He was president of the Toronto Land and Investment Company and a director for the Ontario Bank
, the London and Canadian Loan and Agency Company and the Glasgow and London Insurance Company. Cockburn also served as a member of the senate for the University of Toronto
.
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...
-born educator and political figure in 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....
, Canada. He represented Toronto Centre
Toronto Centre
Toronto Centre is a federal electoral district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1872 to 1925, and since 1935, under the names Centre Toronto , Toronto Centre , Rosedale and Toronto Centre—Rosedale .Toronto Centre covers the heart of...
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...
from 1887 to 1896 as a Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
member.
He was born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and was educated in Scotland, graduating from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
and continuing his studies in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Cockburn taught in Scotland for several years. In 1834, he married Mary Zane. In 1858, he came to Canada West as rector for the Model Grammar School for Upper Canada. Cockburn was named principal for Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...
in 1861. Cockburn was unsuccessful when he ran for reelection in 1896. He was president of the Toronto Land and Investment Company and a director for the Ontario Bank
Ontario Bank
Ontario Bank was an early bank operating in Toronto, Ontario in 1860. It was last listed as a member of the Canadian Bankers Association in 1901. The bank and its 30 branches across the province were absorbed into the Bank of Montreal in the fall of 1906, after its general manager Charles McGill...
, the London and Canadian Loan and Agency Company and the Glasgow and London Insurance Company. Cockburn also served as a member of the senate for the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.