Strachan, John

(1778-1867)

   Born in Aberdeen, Scotland. Graduated at King's College, Aberdeen, 1796. Came to Canada, 1799, and opened a school at Kingston. Ordained deacon, 1803, and priest, 1804. Became rector of York, 1812; archdeacon, 1827; and bishop of Toronto, 1839. Appointed to the Executive Council, 1815; and to the Legislative Council, 1818; remained a member of the former until 1836, and of the Legislative Council until 1841.

   Index: R Comes to Canada, 1799, to inaugurate educational policy, 36; his character, 37; takes orders in Church of England, and appointed rector of York, 37; called to Executive Council, 37, 46; his ambitious plans, 38; becomes archdeacon of York, 1827, 46; his commanding influence, 46; asserts pretensions of Church of England, 49; proposes sale of Clergy Reserves, 50; his sermon, 1826, 50-51, 63; his educational policy, 52; chairman of Board of Education, 58; asks legislative aid for theological students, 59; development of his policy, and of opposition to it, 61-63; outlines his views in sermon on death of bishop of Quebec, 67; visits England, 72; has bill introduced in Imperial Parliament for sale of portion of Reserves, 72; secures charter of King's College, 72-73; becomes first president, 73; his letter to Horton on church establishment in Upper Canada, 72; his ecclesiastical chart, 74; counter chart prepared by Dr. Lee, 75; evidence laid before parliamentary committee, 75; his speech before Legislative Council, 1828, 75-76; Ryerson's reply, 76-79; his fight for denominational schools, 243. S His arrival in Canada, 170; becomes bishop, 171. Sy Bishop of Toronto, his opposition to Sydenham's Clergy Reserves Bill, 247. B Denounces bill for secularization of King's College, 8; his environment, 260. BL Head of Home District Grammar School, 25, 106; Robert Baldwin one of his pupils, 25; and King's College, 192-193; leads opposition to Baldwin's University Bill, 195, 196; referred to by George Brown, 224; leads agitation against Baldwin's University Bill, 295; raises funds for an Anglican ministry, 295-296. E Secures charter for King's College, 93; deeply incensed at secularization of King's College, 94; his mistaken policy, 94-95; establishes Trinity College, 95; his uncompromising attitude in settlement of Clergy Reserves, 150; induces Sir John Colborne to create and endow forty-four rectories, 154; his report on this question, 156; dominant influence in Legislative Council, 157; opposes division of the Reserves, 159, 160; his final discomfiture, 169. Mc Proposes provincial university, 95. Md First bishop of Toronto, opposes secularization of King's College, 29-30; also opposes secularization of Clergy Reserves, 59. W His charter for King's College, Upper Canada, 51.

   Bib.: Dict. Nat. Biog.; Rose, Cyc. Can. Biog.; Dent, Can. Por.; Bethune, Memoir of Bishop Strachan; Mockridge, The Bishops of the Church of England in Canada and Newfoundland.