About John Willoughby Crawford
Lived 1817 – 1875 (aged 57). John Willoughby Crawford was a Canadian lawyer and politician.
John Willoughby Crawford (1817 – 13 May 1875) was a Canadian politician who served as the third Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1873 to 1875.
Life Born in 1817 in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, Ireland, the son of George Crawford, John Crawford came to Upper Canada as a child when his family settled in Brockville. He married Helen Sherwood of York, Upper Canada (Toronto). A lawyer by profession, Crawford served as president of the Royal Canadian Bank and was solicitor for the Grand Trunk Railway. In 1867, he was appointed Queen's Counsel. He also became president of the Toronto and Nipissing Railway in 1868 and also served as a director of the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway.
Crawford was member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for East Toronto from 1861 to 1863. He then served as a House of Commons of Canada from 1867 to 1873, and supported representation by population. On the day his government resigned in 1873, The Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald appointed Crawford Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
In the months leading to his death, Crawford's health was poor. following several months of ill health. He died on 13 May 1875 at Government House, his official residence.
Electoral history
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in John Willoughby Crawford's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Willoughby Crawford's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Willoughby Crawford?
Canadian politician (1817-1875)
When was John Willoughby Crawford born?
John Willoughby Crawford was born on 26 August 1817 in Manorhamilton.
When did John Willoughby Crawford die?
John Willoughby Crawford died on 13 May 1875 in Toronto.
What was John Willoughby Crawford's occupation?
John Willoughby Crawford was a lawyer and politician.
What nationality was John Willoughby Crawford?
John Willoughby Crawford was Canadian.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: John Willoughby Crawford
· DBpedia: John Willoughby Crawford
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Willoughby Crawford. https://biography.guide/john-willoughby-crawford/
MLA: "John Willoughby Crawford." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-willoughby-crawford/.
Chicago: "John Willoughby Crawford." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-willoughby-crawford/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:23 UTC