Joseph McCausland
Section O, Lot 91/98
Toronto Necropolis
Born February 10, 1828 in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, Joseph McCausland immigrated to Upper Canada with his family when he was 7. Educated and trained in Toronto, he was a practising artisan by the age of 11. In 1846 he established his own painting firm, which, during the period 1850–56, was located on Temperance Street; he formed a brief partnership with William Bullock, listed as “McCausland & Bullock, glass stainers” at the same address. From 1862 the firm was called the Canada Stained Glass Works, and is believed to be the oldest family-owned company in North America. The stained-glass department of McCausland’s firm was made a separate company under Robert in 1897, despite Joseph’s initial inclination to give up that branch and his misgivings about Robert’s business ability. The company did the stained glass window in Holy Trinity Church, and the glass dome of the Bank of Montreal at Yonge and Front Streets. His son, Robert, did the huge stained glass window at old city hall. Joseph died on May 3, 1905. The company, renamed Robert McCausland Limited, is located in Etobicoke.