John Leys (politician)
Encyclopedia
John Leys was an Ontario
lawyer and political figure. He represented Toronto in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1886 to 1890 as a Liberal member.
He was born in Pickering
, Ontario County
, Upper Canada
in 1834, the son of Francis Leys, a Scottish
immigrant. He was educated at the Toronto Academy. Leys studied law with Angus Morrison
, was called to the bar in 1860 and set up practice in Toronto
. He served as solicitor for the Toronto and Nipissing Railway
and was involved in the development of the Narrow Gauge Railway. In 1865, he married Helen Emma Arthurs, the daughter of a Toronto merchant. He ran unsuccessfully in Toronto East in 1879 and 1882 before his election to the provincial assembly in 1886.
His brother Francis also served as a member of the provincial assembly.
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....
lawyer and political figure. He represented Toronto in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
from 1886 to 1890 as a Liberal member.
He was born in Pickering
Pickering, Ontario
Pickering is a city located in Southern Ontario, Canada immediately east of Toronto in Durham Region. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, the largest metropolitan area in Canada.- Early Period :...
, Ontario County
Ontario County, Ontario
Ontario County was the name of two historic counties in the Canadian province of Ontario.The original Ontario County existed from 1792 to 1800 as part of the Eastern District, and consisted of the islands in the St. Lawrence River...
, Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
in 1834, the son of Francis Leys, 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 was educated at the Toronto Academy. Leys studied law with Angus Morrison
Angus Morrison
Angus Morrison, QC was an Ontario lawyer and political figure. He represented Niagara in the Canadian House of Commons as a Conservative member from 1867 to 1874...
, was called to the bar in 1860 and set up practice in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He served as solicitor for the Toronto and Nipissing Railway
Toronto and Nipissing Railway
The Toronto and Nipissing Railway was chartered in 1868 to build a narrow gauge railway in Ontario, Canada from Toronto to Lake Nipissing, via York, Ontario, and Victoria Counties. It opened in 1871, with service between Scarborough and Uxbridge. By December 1872 it was extended to Coboconk...
and was involved in the development of the Narrow Gauge Railway. In 1865, he married Helen Emma Arthurs, the daughter of a Toronto merchant. He ran unsuccessfully in Toronto East in 1879 and 1882 before his election to the provincial assembly in 1886.
His brother Francis also served as a member of the provincial assembly.