William Canniff

Born at Thurlow, Upper Canada, and educated in medicine, Canniff served as Medical Officer with the Royal Artillery during the Crimean War. Returning to practice in Belleville and Toronto, he became professor at the University of Victoria College, sub-dean of the Toronto Medical School, and later Toronto’s first Medical Health Officer (1883-91). A member of the Canada First Movement, he was deeply interested in the promotion of colonization of the North West. His writings include contributions to medical literature as well as the useful History of the Early Settlement of Upper Canada. He died at Belleville.

Né à Thurlow (Haut-Canada), Canniff fut médecin dans l’artillerie britannique pendant la guerre de Crimée. Revenue au Canada, il exerça sa profession à Belleville et à Toronto, enseigna au University of Victoria College, devint vice-doyen de l’École de médecine de Toronto et fut, de 1883 à 1891, le premier titulaire des services de santé de la Ville de Toronto. Membre du mouvement «Canada First», il s’intéressa vivement à la colonisation de l’Ouest. Ses écrits comportent des ouvrages médicaux et le précieux History of the Early Settlement of Upper Canada. Il mourut à Belleville.