The 1856 City of Toronto Municipal Election was the city's 22nd municipal election. Polling occurred on the first Monday and Tuesday of the year, January 7 and 8. Elections for Aldermen and Councilmen were held in seven wards and for the Municipal License Inspector.
After the election, John Beverley Robinson a member of the family compact and strong supporter of the railroads, was elected Mayor by City Council, beating John Hutchison a Toronto merchant, who had a reputation for opposing corruption.
Background By the standards of 1850s civic politics, where riots disrupted voting in 1855 and 1857, the election of the Council for 1856 was quiet. The issues that animated the campaign included awarding a major public works contract to complete The Esplanade, the controversy around establishing Separate Schools for Roman Catholics, and taverns licenses.
The Esplanade Contract In 1853, the City of Toronto passed the Esplanade Act to fill in land along the city's waterfront to provide a route for railways to cross the city and a public promenade along the waterfront. The contract was awarded to Gzowski and Company to construct the Esplanade, but multiple issues created a scandal, and in April 1855, City Council voted to annul the contract. However, the decision to cancel the contract led the Grand Trunk Railway, depending on the waterfront route, to threaten to place its track along Queen Street. This led to numerous public meetings and tremendous public pressure to finish the Esplanade.
City Council negotiated with the Grand Trunk Railway during the election campaign to construct the Esplanade. A primary concern was who was obligated to pay for crossings over the rail corridor, the city, or the railway. A special meeting was called on January 13, 1856, after the election but before the new City Council was sworn in to approve the contract, with the modification that the city was responsible for paying for and building any ramps or bridges over the railway tracks, instead of the Grand Trunk Railway. Despite the previous controversies, the outgoing City Council approved the contract unanimously.
Election of the Mayor After the municipal election, City Council convened on January 21, 1856, to elect a Mayor. The proceedings were well-attended, with the gallery filled with spectators eager to witness a contest between John Beverley Robinson, who represented the Family Compact and John Hutchison, supported by the city's burgeoning mercantile community.
Alderman Dunn nominated Robinson for the position of Mayor, with the motion seconded by Councilman Davis. Alderman Dunn argued in favor of Robinson. He was the most qualified candidate and the only St. Patrick's Ward nominee not represented in the mayoral office for some time. Alderman Crooks nominated John Hutchison for Mayor, challenging Robinson's competency and criticizing him for not taking an interest in Council business when he was Alderman in 1854 and for not running for Council in 1855. Crooks also accused Robinson of arranging Councilman Moodie's absence from Council for the vote.
In an attempt to influence the mayoral election, Councilman Moodie, an employee of the Grand Trunk Railway and a vocal supporter of Hutchison, was dispatched by his employer to Montreal three days before the election of the Mayor by City Council, despite his objections. Notwithstanding the controversy, Robinson was elected Mayor by a majority of 4, with the motion carried 15 to 11.
City Council Results Each ward elected 2 Aldermen and 2 Councilmen. There were ten open seats in the 1856 election, and 15 members of the City Council stood for re-election. Two incumbents lost, Angus Morrison (elected to the Provincial assembly in the summer of 1854) and William Graham.
Position Candidate Votes % ± Vote for Mayor Aldermen John Harrington 427 40.9% N/A John Hutchison 346 33.1% N/A Hewitt 272 26.0% N/A Councilmen John Wilson(X) 317 32.4% +2.3% John Cameron 244 25.0% N/A Thompson 174 17.8% N/A Mitchell 158 16.2% N/A A.H. St. Germain 84 8.6% N/A Position Candidate Votes % ± Vote for Mayor Aldermen John Worthington 279 41.9% N/A R.P. Crooks (X) 205 30.8% -4.9% Ritchey 182 27.3% N/A Councilmen Henry Prettie (X) 276 42.9% +15.2% Henry Sproat 229 35.6% N/A Charles Fisher 138 21.5% +3.7% Position Candidate Votes % ± Vote for Mayor Aldermen John Bugg (X) 347 52.1% +16.3% Richard Dempsey 319 47.9% +15.8% Councilmen Robert Moodie 336 46.8% +12.6% Joseph Rowell (X) 241 33.6% +3.6% Carnegie 141 19.6% N/A Position Candidate Votes % ± Vote for Mayor Aldermen William Henderson (X) 340 37.0% -3.2% John George Bowes 318 34.6% N/A Brooke 261 28.4% N/A Councilmen Adam Beatty (X) 328 32.8% -10.1% John Carruthers (X) 235 23.5% -13.8% James Mallon 221 22.1% N/A William Ramsey 215 21.5% N/A Position Candidate Votes % ± Vote for Mayor Aldermen Alexander Manning 204 39.1% +12.0% William Strachan 180 34.5% N/A D.K. Feehan 138 26.4% N/A Councilmen William Davis 199 36.2% N/A William Murphy (X) 176 32.0% -5.7% Ernest 175 31.9% N/A Position Candidate Votes % ± Vote for Mayor Aldermen John Duggan (X) 172 42.1% -5.5% G.A. Philpotts(X) 122 29.8% -5.9% Brunel 115 28.1% N/A Councilmen Geo. Neeting 127 35.4% N/A Edward Wright (X) 131 36.5% +5% James Myers 101 28.1% +4.4% Position Candidate Votes % ± Vote for Mayor Aldermen John Beverley Robinson 279 47.3% Candidate Johnathan Dunn (X) 171 29.0% -21.7% Adam Wilson (X) 140 23.7% -25.6% Councilmen T. Shortis 231 40.4% N/A Theophilus Earls (X) 206 36.0% -6.9% Reeves 135 23.6% N/A
References