William Cawthra
Encyclopedia
William Cawthra was the eldest son of Joseph Cawthra
, the founder and patriarch of the Cawthra Family
in Toronto, Ontario
, Canada
.
William inherited much of his father's fortune and business interests, and greatly expanded on them. William eventually became the wealthiest man in Toronto. He and his wife, Sarah Ellen Crowther Cawthra, lived in a townhouse at the corner of King and Bay Streets (the current site of the Bank of Nova Scotia's main headquarters). This house has been recognized as the most beautiful ever built in Canada
, but was torn down in 1946 to make way for the Scotia Plaza
. (Anthony Patrick Cawthra Adamson, a descendant of Joseph Cawthra, tried to rescue the mansion from demolition, but could not. He managed to save some architectural elements from the house and installed them in his Rosedale, Toronto
garden). William Cawthra died without heirs, and left his fortune to his nieces and nephews, who would use their fortunes to build lavish mansions on Jarvis Street
and elsewhere (the land granted to Joseph Cawthra by the Crown became the site of numerous Cawthra family country homes), and to elevate themselves further in Toronto society.
Cawthra Park in the city's Church and Wellesley
neighbourhood, adjoining Cawthra's former Jarvis Street properties, is named for him.
Cawthra's property at Church and Wellesley Streets was home to the city's lacrosse club and the first baseball club at the Old Lacrosse Fields from 1872 to 1890. The property was redeveloped for homes and a church and now known as Cawthra Square.
Joseph Cawthra
Joseph Cawthra was a Canadian merchant and politician. Cawthra arrived in York, Upper Canada, from Yeadon, Yorkshire, England, in 1802. He was granted a tract of land in Mississauga, Ontario by the Crown, provided he build a home on it within four years...
, the founder and patriarch of the Cawthra Family
Cawthra family
The Cawthra Family of Toronto was famous for its business, social and cultural contributions to the city. They are one of the oldest families in Toronto, and many descendants of the House of Cawthra's founder, Joseph Cawthra, continue to play significant roles in Toronto society.* Joseph Cawthra -...
in Toronto, 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
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
William inherited much of his father's fortune and business interests, and greatly expanded on them. William eventually became the wealthiest man in Toronto. He and his wife, Sarah Ellen Crowther Cawthra, lived in a townhouse at the corner of King and Bay Streets (the current site of the Bank of Nova Scotia's main headquarters). This house has been recognized as the most beautiful ever built in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, but was torn down in 1946 to make way for the Scotia Plaza
Scotia Plaza
Scotia Plaza is a Postmodern commercial office complex in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The complex is situated in the financial district of the downtown core, and is generally bordered by Yonge Street on the east, King Street West on the south, Bay Street on the west, and Adelaide Street...
. (Anthony Patrick Cawthra Adamson, a descendant of Joseph Cawthra, tried to rescue the mansion from demolition, but could not. He managed to save some architectural elements from the house and installed them in his Rosedale, Toronto
Rosedale, Toronto
Rosedale is an affluent neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which was formerly the estate of William Botsford Jarvis, and so named by his wife, granddaughter of William Dummer Powell, for the wild roses that grew there in abundance....
garden). William Cawthra died without heirs, and left his fortune to his nieces and nephews, who would use their fortunes to build lavish mansions on Jarvis Street
Jarvis Street
Jarvis Street is a north-south thoroughfare in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, passing through some of the oldest developed areas in the city. Its alignment extends from Bloor Street in the north to Queens Quay East in the south. South of Front Street, it continues as Lower Jarvis Street...
and elsewhere (the land granted to Joseph Cawthra by the Crown became the site of numerous Cawthra family country homes), and to elevate themselves further in Toronto society.
Cawthra Park in the city's Church and Wellesley
Church and Wellesley
Church and Wellesley is an LGBT-oriented community located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is roughly bounded by Gerrard Street to the south, Yonge Street to the west, Charles Street to the north, and Jarvis Street to the east, with the core commercial strip located along Church Street from...
neighbourhood, adjoining Cawthra's former Jarvis Street properties, is named for him.
Cawthra's property at Church and Wellesley Streets was home to the city's lacrosse club and the first baseball club at the Old Lacrosse Fields from 1872 to 1890. The property was redeveloped for homes and a church and now known as Cawthra Square.