John Jacob Withrow
1833–1900 (age 67)
Biography
John Jacob Withrow (1833 – August 5, 1900) was a Toronto businessman and politician. He proposed the first edition of the Canadian National Exhibition and organised the annual event for several years.
Withrow was born in York, Upper Canada, and opened a construction business. In 1873, he was elected as alderman for the Toronto City Council. He tried to convince the Provincial Fair Association to permanently establish their annual fair in Toronto. When they refused, he established an annual fair in Toronto, which later became the Canadian National Exhibition. He twice ran, unsuccessfully, to become mayor of Toronto. After leaving city council, he sat on the board of various businesses and philanthropic organisations. He declared bankruptcy after losing his investments in a depression in the 1890s. He died in Toronto after suffering from a stroke.