John Charlton
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John Charlton (February 3, 1829 - 11 February 1910) Canadian Member of Parliament and businessman.
Born in Garbatisville, New York he was the eldest son of Adam Charlton of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. For 32 years until 1904 Charlton was the member of parliament for North Norfolk, Ontario.
He was first educated in McLaren Grammar School of Caledonia, New York before moving the Springville Academy in New York. Interested in bettering himself he studied medicine, the law and public speaking.
In 1849 when he was twenty years old he moved with his parents to Ary, in Dumfires Township, Ontario. In this period he was a farmer. Charlton's interest in educating himself continued and he helped start a library in the town of Ary. Next, in 1853 he moved to Lynedoch and opened a general store. Then his next career move was to become the Canadian Manager for the lumber company of Messieurs Smith & Westover of Tonawanda, New York.
It was in 1872 that he was first elected to the house of parliament. He was a liberal with strong religious views and high ideals. Charlton's speeches were considered blunt and brusque compared to his contemporaries. He was a strong advocated for provincial rights. Charlton worked for years for passage of a law affording protection to women and girls under a certain age.
After a tour of the United States in 1897 Charlton served on the Joint High Commission between Great Briton, Canada and the United States from 1898 to 1899.
Charlton was the author of "Parliamentary Recollections" and contributed to the North American Review.
In his private life he married Ella Gray in 1854, daughter of George Grey of Charlotteville, Ontario. She died in 1905. Charlton married Cora J. Given in 1907.
References:
Toronto Public Library Scrapbook, microfilm T686.3, Volume , page 127
