John George Howard

John George Howard (born John Corby; July 27, 1803 – February 3, 1890) was the official surveyor and civil engineer for the government of Toronto in Upper Canada and later Canada. He was also the first professional architect in Toronto. He designed numerous public, commercial and residential buildings during the 19th century. In addition, he was the principal donor of High Park to the people of Toronto.

Personal life

Born as John Corby in Bengeo, Hertfordshire, England, he was the fourth of seven children of John and Sarah Corby. He attended a boarding school in Hertford and spent two years at sea as a sailor before returning to England to become a carpenter and joiner.

The Howards are buried in High Park, and their cairn monument is near to Colborne Lodge. The monument was designed by Howard. The fence was brought from London, England. It dates to the 1700s and was formerly part of the fence around St Paul's Cathedral in London, which was designed by Christopher Wren. During its transport from England, the ship carrying the fence sank in the St. Lawrence River, and Howard arranged for the fence to be salvaged from the wreck.

Professional career Howard was an associate of William Ford from 1824 to 1832, with one notable engineering project working on the Cromford Canal in Derbyshire, England. He is also known to have worked for Mr. Grayson of St. Luke's, London, superintending work on Leeds Castle. Regency southeast corner of York Street and King Street, Toronto, Ontario

William Hume Blake House "Woodlawn" by Howard 1840–41 Regency 35 Woodlawn Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario Victoria Row (later the Albany Club) by Howard 1840–1842; altered 1860s Regency 91 King Street East at Church Street, Toronto, Ontario

St. John's Church, York Mills by Howard 1842–1843 Gothic 19 Don Ridge Road, North York, Ontario

William Augustus Baldwin House "Mashquoteh" by Howard 1850 Regency Avenue Road near Heath Street, Toronto, Ontario Bank of British North America built by Howard 1856 Regency Yonge and Wellington Streets, Toronto, Ontario

Union Mills, Weston built by Howard 1860s Regency Lawrence Avenue West and Weston Road (Side Line and High Street), Toronto, Ontario Provincial Lunatic Asylum built by Howard 1860 (demolished 1970s) Regency 999 Queen St, Toronto, Ontario

Paintings by John George Howard