George Howard Ferguson
Plot 4, Lot 1
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
Born in Kemptville, Ontario on June 18, 1870 Ferguson attended school locally for a time, but because of his prankish behaviour, was eventually sent to Toronto for further schooling. Following completion of his studies at the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall, Ferguson was called to the Bar in 1894. Returning to his hometown in eastern Ontario, he entered municipal politics as an alderman and subsequently was elected reeve.
In 1905, Ferguson ran provincially winning a seat for the Conservative government. Over the following years, he held various positions, including the important post of minister of education. Elected party leader in 1920, Ferguson and his party won a majority of seats in the election of 1923 with Ferguson then assuming the premiership. He held that office for seven years, relinquishing the reigns of office to his successor George S. Henry in 1930.
For the next five years, having declined an offer to become federal Conservative leader, Ferguson was the Canadian high commissioner to London. He retired from public life in 1935, though he accepted the post of chancellor of the University of Western Ontario in 1945.
During his seven year tenure as the premier of Ontario, Ferguson saw the creation of the provincial liquor control system and the Liquor Control Act, expansion of the hydro- electric and provincial highway networks, and helped resolve a long-standing dispute over the teaching of French in Ontario schools.
On February 21, 1946, at the age of 75, the Honourable George H. Ferguson died of heart failure at his 559 Avenue Road residence.
Mike Filey
Mount Pleasant Cemetery: An Illustrated Guide
Second Edition Revised and Expanded