Person Record

Metadata

Name

Hearst, William Howard

Born

Feb. 15, 1864

Birthplace

Arran Township

Deceased

Sept. 29, 1941

Deceased

Toronto

Father

William Hearst Sr.

Mother

Margaret McFadden

Spouse

Isabel Dunkin

Relationships

William was the youngest of 10 siblings.

Education

He attended the school at Arkwright and the Tara Public School. He then attended Collingwood Collegiate.

Occupation

In 1882, Hearst became a student in the law office of James Masson, Owen Sound. After passing his examinations at Osgoode Hall, and being called to the bar, "he first went to Winnipeg, but saw no promise there." (McClure, p. 24). He then decided to set up a practice of law in Sault Ste Marie. While there, he was elected to the Ontario Legislature as a Conservative MPP in 1908. He became Minister of Lands and Forests and Mines in 1911. While serving as MPP, he and his family moved to Toronto. He became Premier of Ontario in 1914. He resumed his law practice in 1919, this time in Toronto, when his government was defeated. He served on the International Joint Commission from 1920-1940.

Hearst served his community of Sault Ste. Marie as chairman of hte Volunteer Fire Brigade, and a member of the Masonic Order. He was also an active member of the Methodist Church and was SundaySchool Superintendent for many years.

Places

William moved to Tara with his parents in 1875. He later practiced as a lawyer in Sault Ste. Marie before being elected to the Ontario Legislature.

Titles & Honours

William Hearst was knighted in 1917.

Sources

Sources:
a) Miller, Bruce. "Tara before 1981." 1980. Print.
b) Tennyson, Brian D. "Sir William Howard Hearst" Historica Canada, 04 Mar. 2015 Web, February 2016.
c) McClure, Shirley. "Sir William H. Hearst, Premier of Ontario, 1914-1919." The Bruce County Historical Society Yearbook, 1999.