Thomas Parke
Encyclopedia
Thomas Parke was an architect
, builder, journalist and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in County Wicklow
in Ireland
in 1793 and came to York (Toronto
) in 1820. He worked with John Ewart
as a master carpenter
on a number of construction projects, including the new parliament buildings at York. He moved to London, Ontario
in 1832. He invested in property and built a gristmill
on the Thames River
there in 1833. He was also involved in projects to establish a railway link to the city and improve navigation on the Thames below London. In 1834, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
for Middlesex
; he was reelected in 1836. In 1838, with other Reformers
unhappy with the political environment of the time, he was involved in a project to plan the development of a settlement in Iowa
; this project did not advance much further than initial planning. In 1839, he was a co-founder of the Canada Inquirer, later the London Inquirer, a reform-oriented newspaper. He was appointed justice of the peace in the London District in 1840. He supported the union of Upper and Lower Canada
and, in 1841, was elected to the 1st Parliament of the Province of Canada
. In the same year, he was appointed surveyor general, serving until 1845, when the office was abolished. He then was named customs collector at Port Colborne
; he was named to the same post at Port Dalhousie (St Catharines
) in 1860.
He died in St. Catharines in 1864.
His son Ephraim Jones later became a lawyer and judge.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, builder, journalist and political figure in 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...
.
He was born in County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
in 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 1793 and came to York (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...
) in 1820. He worked with John Ewart
John Ewart (architect)
John Ewart was a Canadian architect and businessman.He was born in Tranent Scotland in 1788. After completing his apprenticeship in building, he moved to London around 1811. In 1816, he emigrated to New York City and moved to York in Upper Canada a few years later...
as a master carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
on a number of construction projects, including the new parliament buildings at York. He moved to London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
in 1832. He invested in property and built a gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
on the Thames River
Thames River (Ontario)
The Thames River is located in southwestern Ontario, Canada.The Thames flows west through southwestern Ontario, through the cities of Woodstock, London and Chatham to Lighthouse Cove on Lake St. Clair...
there in 1833. He was also involved in projects to establish a railway link to the city and improve navigation on the Thames below London. In 1834, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
for Middlesex
Middlesex County, Ontario
Middlesex County is a primarily rural county in Southwestern Ontario. Landlocked, the county is bordered by Huron and Perth counties on the north, Oxford County on the east, Elgin County on the south, and Chatham-Kent and Lambton County on the west.The seat is the city of London, although the city...
; he was reelected in 1836. In 1838, with other Reformers
Reform Party (pre-Confederation)
The Reform movement, sometimes referred to as the Reform Party, began in the 1830s as the movement in the English speaking parts of British North America . It agitated for responsible government....
unhappy with the political environment of the time, he was involved in a project to plan the development of a settlement in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
; this project did not advance much further than initial planning. In 1839, he was a co-founder of the Canada Inquirer, later the London Inquirer, a reform-oriented newspaper. He was appointed justice of the peace in the London District in 1840. He supported the union of Upper and Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
and, in 1841, was elected to the 1st Parliament of the Province of Canada
1st Parliament of the Province of Canada
The 1st Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from June 15, 1841 to 1843. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in April 1841. All sessions were held at Kingston, Canada West....
. In the same year, he was appointed surveyor general, serving until 1845, when the office was abolished. He then was named customs collector at Port Colborne
Port Colborne, Ontario
Port Colborne is a city on Lake Erie, at the southern end of the Welland Canal, in the Niagara Region of southern Ontario, Canada...
; he was named to the same post at Port Dalhousie (St Catharines
St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines is the largest city in Canada's Niagara Region and the sixth largest urban area in Ontario, Canada, with 97.11 square kilometres of land...
) in 1860.
He died in St. Catharines in 1864.
His son Ephraim Jones later became a lawyer and judge.