George Gurnett

Who was George Gurnett?

George Gurnett was a Canadian journalist and city of Toronto politician.

Born in Sussex, England, he emigrated in the 1820s to Virginia and late moved to Ancaster in Upper Canada were he founded his first local paper, The Gore Gazetteand finally to York in 1829 where he founded the Tory paper The Courier of Upper Canada.' He sold 'The Courier of Upper Canada' in 1837.

When York was incorporated in May 1834 as the city of Toronto, Gurnett was elected to the city council as the representative for St. George’s Ward. During his 17 years on city council he served as mayor four times, in 1837, 1848, 1849, and 1850. Due to his long service on council and his years as Mayor he is often considered to be one of the founders of the City of Toronto

Gurnett held many positions while on Council. In 1837 he was appointed as the cities first Tory mayor and as magistrate of the Home District and district clerk of the peace. He held positions on committees that dealt with harbour and wharves, gas and waterworks, and education and was chairman of the board of health during the 1847 typhus epidemic