The Toronto Ferry Company was formed from the merge of John Doty Engine & Ferry Company with A.J. Tymon's Island Ferry Company, two of Toronto's early ferry operators to Toronto Islands in 1890. TFC was founded and headed by businessman Lol Solman. The company's ferry license and ships was later acquired by the Toronto Transportation Commission in 1927.
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Capt. Andrew J. Tymon operated a number ferries from 1880 until the formation of his own service in the mid 1880s. It later merged with John Doty's company to form TFC in 1892.
Vessels included:
Doty Brothers (John Doty) began as a builder of ship engines and gradually as an operator of ferry service to the Island. The company was located at Front and Bathurst Streets in a building now occupied by Sherwin-Williams paint store.
A list of engines built by John Doty:
Machinist John Doty founded the Doty Ferry Company in 1880 from the purchase of the assets of the Turner Ferry Company. It operated until merging with A.J. Tymon in 1890.
A list of ships operated by the TFC:
| Make/Model | Description | # passengers | Year acquired | Year retired | Notes |
| * Mayflower - built by Bathurst Street Wharf for John Doty Engine & Ferry Company | ferry | 900-1000 | 1890 | 1938 | Later acquired from the Toronto Ferry Company by E.B. Osler (with acquisition of John Doty Engine & Ferry Company and Tymon's Island Ferry Company; became city garbage scow |
| Primrose built by Bathurst Street Wharf for John Doty Engine & Ferry Company | ferry | 900-1000 | 1890 | 1938 | sister ship to the Mayflower and later acquired from the Toronto Ferry Company |
| Bluebell - built by Polson Iron Works Limited for Toronto Ferry Company | ferry | N/A | 1906 | 1955 | |
| Trillium 1910-1957 - built by Polson Iron Works Limited for Toronto Ferry Company | ferry | N/A | 1910; 1976 | 1957 | re-enter service 1976 with Metro Parks |
| Luella - built by W. Armour & Company and John Doty Engine Company for Toronto Ferry Company | ferry | 122 | 1882 | 1934 | |
| Sadie - built as St. Jean Baptiste for the Turner Ferry Co. by James Andrew of Oakville | double-decked paddle vessel - 112 feet | 377 | 1885 | ? | |
| Canadian - built for the Turner Ferry Co. by Alexander Clindinning of Toronto | two-decked, double-ended pad-die steamer - 122 feet | 340 | 1882 | ? | |
| Prouvette Beyer - built for the Turner Ferry Co. | ferry | 1882 | ? | ||
| Arlington - built for the A.J. Tymon Ferry Co. in Harwood | single deck screw steamer | 100 | 1878, 1880 | ? | |
| Jessie McEdwards - built for the A.J. Tymon Ferry Co. by Melancthon Simpson of St. Catharines | single deck screw steamer - 65 feet | 116 | 1876 | ? | |
| Kathleen - built for the A.J. Tymon Ferry Co. by George Dickson of Toronto | two-decked screw steamer - 84 feet | 200 | 1886 | 1918 | |
| Getrude - built for the A.J. Tymon Ferry Co. by George Clean of Toronto | two-decked screw steamer - 75 feet | 147 | 1886 | ? | |
| Island Queen - built for the A.J. Tymon Ferry Co. - Joseph Duval at Port Dalhousie | single-decked screw steamer - 73 feet | 148 | 1882 | 1918 | |
| Ned Hanlan - built for the A.J. Tymon Ferry Co. | ferry | 1902 | 1966 | ||
| T.J. Clark | ferry | 1918 | 1960 | ||
| Miss Simcoe | ferry | 1918 | 1929 | ||
| Lady York | ferry | 1918 | 1929 | ||
| Aylmer | ferry | 1918 | 1929 | ||
| Buttercup | ferry | 1918 | 1929 | ||
| Jasmine | ferry | 1918 | 1929 | later renamed Ojibway | |
| Aylmer | ferry | 1918 | 1929 | ||
| Clark Brothers | ferry | 1918 | 1927 | ||
| John Hanlan - built by Abbey of Port Dalhousie | screw steamer | 1844 | 1929 | burned and sunk off Sunnyside Park 1929 |