William Cayley
Encyclopedia
William Cayley was a lawyer and political figure in Canada West.
He was born in Saint Petersburg
, Russia
in 1807, the son of a British consul, and studied in England
. He was called to the bar in 1835 and subsequently came to Upper Canada
where he was admitted to the bar in 1838. In 1836, he married Emma Robinson, the daughter of D’Arcy Boulton. He opened a practice in Toronto
, later partnering with Matthew Crooks Cameron
. In 1845, he was chosen as Inspector General, a post in the Executive Council, and elected to the Legislative Assembly
in a by-election held in Huron
in 1846 and was reelected in 1848. He was defeated in the 1851 election, but elected again in Huron and Bruce
in 1854, serving on the Board of Railway Commissioners and once again as Inspector General. In 1855, Cayley introduced the Audit Act which established an auditor of public accounts and the Audit Board, a new government department. He was elected one more time in an 1858 by-election for Renfrew
; he retired from politics in 1861. He served as a director of the Bank of Upper Canada
and was president in 1861. He served as Auditor General
for the province of Ontario
from 1870 to 1877. Cayley died in Toronto in 1890.
His son Hugh Cayley
became a Member of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly serving from 1886 until 1894.
He was born in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, Russia
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
in 1807, the son of a British consul, and studied in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was called to the bar in 1835 and subsequently 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...
where he was admitted to the bar in 1838. In 1836, he married Emma Robinson, the daughter of D’Arcy Boulton. He opened a 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...
, later partnering with Matthew Crooks Cameron
Matthew Crooks Cameron
Sir Matthew Crooks Cameron, QC was a lawyer, judge and politician in the Canadian province of Ontario.He was born in Dundas in Upper Canada, during his studies at Upper Canada College, he lost one leg after a shooting accident. Cameron later articled in law, was called to the bar in 1849 and...
. In 1845, he was chosen as Inspector General, a post in the Executive Council, and elected to the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house of the legislature for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the...
in a by-election held in Huron
Huron County, Ontario
Huron County is a census division and county of the province of Ontario, Canada. It is located on the southeast shore of its namesake, Lake Huron, in the southwest part of the province...
in 1846 and was reelected in 1848. He was defeated in the 1851 election, but elected again in Huron and Bruce
Bruce County, Ontario
Bruce County is a county in western Ontario, Canada, and includes the Bruce Peninsula. As of 2006, the population was 65,349. The area was . The county seat is Walkerton, Ontario. It is located at ....
in 1854, serving on the Board of Railway Commissioners and once again as Inspector General. In 1855, Cayley introduced the Audit Act which established an auditor of public accounts and the Audit Board, a new government department. He was elected one more time in an 1858 by-election for Renfrew
Renfrew County, Ontario
Renfrew is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario. In 2006, the population was 97,545 and county covered , giving a population density of . There are 17 official municipalities.-Government:...
; he retired from politics in 1861. He served as a director of the Bank of Upper Canada
Bank of Upper Canada
The Bank of Upper Canada was a Canadian bank established in 1821 under a Charter granted by the colony of Upper Canada in 1819. The incorporators were William Allan, Robert C. Horne, John Scarlett, Francis Jackson, William W. Baldwin, Alexander Legge, Thomas Ridout, his son Samuel Ridout, D’Arcy...
and was president in 1861. He served as Auditor General
Auditor General of Ontario
The role of the Auditor General of Ontario is to aid accountability by conducting independent audits of provincial government operations. The office was created in 1869. In 1886 the Auditor’s Office was an adjunct of Treasury. Since then the office has evolved into an independent agency. The office...
for the province of 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....
from 1870 to 1877. Cayley died in Toronto in 1890.
His son Hugh Cayley
Hugh Cayley
Hugh St. Quentin Cayley was a Canadian lawyer, news reporter and politician.-Early life:Hugh St. Quentin Cayley was born on November 19, 1857 in Toronto. He was raised in Upper Canada and one of eleven children fathered by William Cayley...
became a Member of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly serving from 1886 until 1894.