William Archer (Toronto politician)
Encyclopedia
William Lee Archer was a Toronto politician and lawyer.
Archer was born in Hamilton, Ontario
to William L. Archer, an Anglican minister and Caroline MacGregor. After the death of his father the family moved to Toronto where William found work at the age of 15 as an office boy before moving to the Imperial Bank of Canada
where he was a junior from 1937 until 1940 when he joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
. He became a sub-lieutenant in 1942 and retired as a Lieutenant-Commander at the end of World War II
.
He attended McGill University
following the war and then studied law at Osgoode Hall Law School
. He was called to be bar in 1953, became Queen's Counsel
in 1962.
In politics, Archer was active with the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
on the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party.
He was first elected to Toronto City Council
for Ward 3 in 1958 and, as senior alderman for the ward, served on Metro Council
as well. In 1963 he was appointed to the Toronto Board of Control
to fill the vacancy created by Donald Summerville's death. He was elected to the Board in his own right in the 1964 election.
Archer ran for Mayor of Toronto in 1966 but was defeated by William Dennison
. In 1969, he returned to City Council as alderman for Ward 5. He was elected Ward 6 alderman in 1972 but was defeated in the 1974 election.
In 1975, the provincial government appointed Archer chair of the Niagara Region Study Review Commission. He later served on the Toronto Historical Board and, in 1997, received the Toronto Award of Merit.
Archer was born in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
to William L. Archer, an Anglican minister and Caroline MacGregor. After the death of his father the family moved to Toronto where William found work at the age of 15 as an office boy before moving to the Imperial Bank of Canada
Imperial Bank of Canada
The Imperial Bank of Canada was a Canadian bank based in Toronto in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century.Founded in 1873 as the Imperial Bank in Toronto by Henry Stark Howland, former vice president of the Canadian Bank of Commerce. The bank became the Imperial Bank of Canada in 1874.In...
where he was a junior from 1937 until 1940 when he joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve was a naval reserve force of the Royal Canadian Navy, which replaced the Royal Navy Canadian Volunteer Reserve .-Foundation:...
. He became a sub-lieutenant in 1942 and retired as a Lieutenant-Commander at the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
He attended McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
following the war and then studied law at Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
. He was called to be bar in 1953, became Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1962.
In politics, Archer was active with the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
on the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party.
He was first elected to Toronto City Council
Toronto City Council
The Toronto City Council is the governing body of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors....
for Ward 3 in 1958 and, as senior alderman for the ward, served on Metro Council
Metro Council
Metro Council can refer to:*Louisville Metro Council in Louisville, Kentucky*Metropolitan Council in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, Minnesota*Metropolitan Council in Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee...
as well. In 1963 he was appointed to the Toronto Board of Control
Toronto Board of Control
Toronto Board of Control was a part of the municipal government of Toronto, Canada from 1904 until its abolition in 1969 and served as the executive committee of Toronto City Council. It consisted of four councillors elected city wide and was presided over by the mayor. Each voter could vote for up...
to fill the vacancy created by Donald Summerville's death. He was elected to the Board in his own right in the 1964 election.
Archer ran for Mayor of Toronto in 1966 but was defeated by William Dennison
William Dennison
William Dennison or Denison may refer to:*William Dennison , 18th-century Master of University College, Oxford*William Dennison, Jr. , American politician, Governor of Ohio and U.S...
. In 1969, he returned to City Council as alderman for Ward 5. He was elected Ward 6 alderman in 1972 but was defeated in the 1974 election.
In 1975, the provincial government appointed Archer chair of the Niagara Region Study Review Commission. He later served on the Toronto Historical Board and, in 1997, received the Toronto Award of Merit.
Reference
- William Archer fonds, City of Toronto Archives, SC 314.