Thomas Parke

Thomas Parke (1793 – January 29, 1864) was an architect, builder, journalist and political figure in Upper Canada.

He was born in County Wicklow in Ireland in 1793 and came to York, Upper Canada (now Toronto, Ontario) in 1820. He worked with John Ewart as a master carpenter on a number of construction projects, including the new parliament buildings at York, to replace the first parliament buildings, burnt by American invaders in the War of 1812.

In 1832, he moved to London, Upper Canada. He invested in property there and built a gristmill on the Thames River in 1833. He was also involved in projects to establish a railway link to the city and improve navigation on the Thames below London. He supported the union of the Canadas and consistently supported the government of the Governor General, Lord Sydenham, in the first session of the Parliament, while supporting Robert Baldwin in subsequent sessions.

On June 7, 1841, Parke was also appointed Surveyor-General for the Province of Canada. Since that was an office of profit under the Crown, he was required to resign his seat in the Assembly. He was returned to the Assembly in subsequent by-election on July 10, 1841.

Parke stood for re-election in the general election of 1844, but came in third, splitting the Reform vote. Edward Ermatinger, the Tory candidate, won the seat.

In 1845, when the position of surveyor general was abolished, he was named customs collector at Port Colborne. He was named to the same post at Port Dalhousie (St Catharines) in 1860.

Parke was married twice, and it is not certain exactly how many children he had with his two wives. It is known that he had at least four sons, all of whom became lawyers. One son, Ephraim Jones Parke, later became a judge.

He died in St. Catharines in 1864.