Alexander Workman
Encyclopedia
Alexander Workman was an Anglo-Irish
-Canadian
politician
and the mayor
of Ottawa
from 1860 to 1862.
Workman was born in County Antrim
, Ireland
. He settled in Huntley Township
in Upper Canada
in 1820. In 1823, he joined his brother in Montreal
, where he helped operate an academy, before moving to Bytown
in 1845 and establishing a hardware business there with a fellow Unitarian
Edward Griffin. He became influential in attempts to organise a Unitarian Church in Ottawa
, but was ultimately unsuccessful. He was a city council member for many years, finally becoming mayor in 1860 and 1861. His wife, Mary Abbot, died on April 23, 1874 at the age of 72. She is buried in Beechwood Cemetery. Mr. Workman died at the age of 93.
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
-Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
from 1860 to 1862.
Workman was born in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He settled in Huntley Township
Huntley Township, Ontario
Huntley is an historic township originally part of Carleton County in eastern Ontario, Canada.Huntley was located in the western part of the county, bordered to the northwest by Fitzroy Township, to the northeast by March Township, to the southwest by Ramsay Township and to the southeast by...
in Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
in 1820. In 1823, he joined his brother in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, where he helped operate an academy, before moving to Bytown
Bytown
Bytown is the former name of Ottawa, Canada's capital city. It was founded on on September 26, 1826, incorporated as a town on January 1, 1850, and superseded by the incorporation of the City of Ottawa on January 1, 1855. The founding was marked by a sod turning, and a letter from Governor General...
in 1845 and establishing a hardware business there with a fellow Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
Edward Griffin. He became influential in attempts to organise a Unitarian Church in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, but was ultimately unsuccessful. He was a city council member for many years, finally becoming mayor in 1860 and 1861. His wife, Mary Abbot, died on April 23, 1874 at the age of 72. She is buried in Beechwood Cemetery. Mr. Workman died at the age of 93.