Right Reverend John Strachan

Born in Scotland, Strachan came to Kingston in 1799. Ordained in 1803, he became rector of Cornwall and taught at its grammar school until named rector of York in 1812. In 1839 he was made first Anglican Bishop of Toronto. A central figure in the “Family Compact”, he was a member of the Executive (1818-36) and the Legislative (1820-41) Councils. He promoted public schooling and, in 1827, secured a Charter for King’s College of which he became first president. When, in 1849, King’s College became the secular University of Toronto, he retired to found, in 1851, the Anglican Trinity College.

Né en Écosse, Strachan arriva à Kingston en 1799. Ordonné en 1803, il devint pasteur de Cornwall et enseigna à l’école secondaire jusqu’à sa nomination en 1812 à York. Il devint premier évêque anglican de Toronto en 1839. Pilier du Family Compact, il fit partie des Conseils exécutif (1818-1836) et législatif (1820-1841). Il inspira l’instauration d’un système d’écoles publiques et en 1827 il obtint une charte pour le King’s College dont il fut le premier président. Quand ce collège fut sécularisé en 1849 et devint l’Université de Toronto, il prit sa retraite et fonda en 1851 le Trinity College, institution anglicane.