Ryerson, Egerton

(1803-1882)

   R Born March 24, 1803, near village of Vittoria, Upper Canada, 1; parentage, 1; his father a United Empire Loyalist, 1; his mother's influence, 2; his early life on the farm, 3; school days, 4; hard study brings on brain fever, 5; enters Methodist ministry, 5, 15; moral development, 5-9; environment, 10-11; difficulty with his father over joining Methodists, 12-13; his reading, 12; returns home and reconciled to his father, 13; ministerial life, 16-20; mission to the Indians, 20-25; appointed to Cobourg circuit, 25; controversial writings, 26-27; becomes editor of Christian Guardian, 27; his political principles, 44; seeks equal rights in religion and education, 45-46; controversial conflict with Strachan, 46, 67-72; replies to Strachan's speech of 1828, 76-79; ordained an elder of Methodist Church, 1829, 81; Canadian Methodist Church established, 81-82; becomes editor of Christian Guardian, 82-83; establishment of Methodist College, 84-86; his attitude towards union of Canadian and British Methodists, 94-96; his political views, 97; attacked by W. L. Mackenzie in the Colonial Advocate, 98; schisms among the Methodists, 99-106; in political life, 107-110; his letters to the London Times on "The Affairs of the Canadas," 111; discusses Clergy Reserves and other questions with Lord Glenelg and Mr. Stephen, 111-112; resumes editorship of Guardian, 114; his platform, 115-117; sums up popular demands, 118; his letters to the Marquis of Normanby, 120-121; president of Victoria College, 126; defends Metcalfe, 126, 129-130; denounced by Reformers, 130-131; letters on Clergy Reserves, 132; letter of 1867, 132; writes on education policy, 134-135; on the Upper Canada Academy, 137-143; receives degree of D.D., 143; Dr. Ormiston's tribute to, 144-146; defends university scheme, 150-154; supports Macdonald's University Bill, 157; opposes Baldwin's University Bill of 1849, 159; outlines new scheme, 159; his views on a provincial university, 161-162; appointed superintendent of schools, 164; studies school systems in Europe and United States, 1844-1846, 164; his reports, 167-168; his reforms, 168-170; Common School Act of 1846, 170; his governing principles, 172-173; establishes normal schools for training of teachers, 173; his unerring instinct in choice of men, 173-174; elements of his system of schools, 175-178; his personal influence, 179; meets opposition in carrying out reforms, 180-182; School Act of 1850, 182-183; question of text-books, 183-184; educational depository, 184; museum, 185; school libraries, 185; free schools and compulsory education, 190-191; quality and efficiency, 192-195; municipal relations, 196-199; his personal influence as a factor in developing the school system, 201-203; the School Acts, 203-208; criticisms, 209-211; creation of office of minister of education, 211-213; the separate school question, 215-245; the high school system, 247-268; his concluding years, 269; his writings--Story of My Life, Canadian Methodism, Loyalists of America, 270-279; later church work and closing days, 281-297; his death, Feb. 19, 1882, 296. BL Referred to in Brown's speech, 224; in political controversy, 1844, 238; appointed superintendent of education, 240-241; his defence of Metcalfe, 240; Sullivan's reply, 243-244; his rejoinder, 245-246. E Defends Metcalfe, 36; his services to the cause of popular education, 89-90; opposes Sydenham's measures on Clergy Reserves, 157. B Denounces Baldwin and defends Metcalfe, 22-23; accepts Separate School Bill, 144, 145; his environment, 260. T Member of King's College Commission, 48. Mc His mission to England, 237; introduced to colonial office, 238; quarrels with Mackenzie, 238.

   Bib.: Works: Report on Popular Education; Affairs of the Canadas; Story of My Life; Canadian Methodism; Loyalists of America. For biog., see Morgan, Cel. Can.; Dict. Nat. Biog.; Dent, Can. Por.and Last Forty Years; Rose, Cyc. Can. Biog.