Robert Henry Preston
Encyclopedia
Robert Henry Preston was an Ontario
doctor and political figure. He represented Leeds South
from 1875 to 1879 and from 1883 to 1886 and Leeds
from 1886 to 1894 in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
as a Conservative
member.
He was born in Bastard Township, Leeds County
in 1840, the son of Anthony Preston, a farmer who came to Upper Canada
from Ireland
. In 1862, he received an M.D.
from Ann Arbor Medical College in Michigan
; he went on to study at Bellvue College in New York
and Queen's College
and received his license to practice medicine in 1864, setting up practice in Newboro. In 1868, he was named associate coroner for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville
. Preston was president of the Brockville, Westport and Sault Ste. Marie Railway. He married Elizabeth, the daughter of Benjamin Tett
, in 1868. He served as president of the North Crosby and Newboro Agricultural Association. Preston was also a member of the Freemasons.
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....
doctor and political figure. He represented Leeds South
Leeds South
Leeds South was a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1904. It was created by the British North America Act of 1867 which divided the County of Leeds into two ridings: a north riding and a south riding...
from 1875 to 1879 and from 1883 to 1886 and Leeds
Leeds (electoral district)
Leeds was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1979. It was located in the province of Ontario...
from 1886 to 1894 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...
as a Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
member.
He was born in Bastard Township, Leeds County
Leeds County, Ontario
Leeds County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.The county was created in 1792, and merged with Grenville County in 1850 to create Leeds and Grenville County....
in 1840, the son of Anthony Preston, a farmer who came to 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...
from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. In 1862, he received an M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from Ann Arbor Medical College in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
; he went on to study at Bellvue College in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Queen's College
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
and received his license to practice medicine in 1864, setting up practice in Newboro. In 1868, he was named associate coroner for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville
Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario
The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville are located Ontario, Canada. The population, as of the 2006 census, was 99,206. The United Counties have a land area of . Leeds and Grenville are located in the subregion of Southern Ontario named Eastern Ontario, and front on the St. Lawrence River and...
. Preston was president of the Brockville, Westport and Sault Ste. Marie Railway. He married Elizabeth, the daughter of Benjamin Tett
Benjamin Tett
Benjamin Tett was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Leeds South as a Conservative member of the 1st Parliament of Ontario....
, in 1868. He served as president of the North Crosby and Newboro Agricultural Association. Preston was also a member of the Freemasons.