page_title: John George Howard
section_title: Professional career
hierarchical_section_title: John George Howard / Professional career
caption_attribution_description: English: Watercolour of John George Howard at work in Toronto. This painting hangs at Colborne Lodge, his home.
context_page_description: John George Howard, born John Corby, was the official surveyor and civil engineer for the government of Toronto in Upper Canada and later Canada. He was also the first professional architect in Toronto, architect of numerous public, commercial and residential buildings in Toronto in the 19th century and the principal donor of High Park to the people of Toronto.
context_section_description: Howard was an associate of William Ford from 1824–1832, with one notable engineering project working on the Cromford Canal in Derbyshire, England. He is also known to have worked for Mr. Grayson of St. Luke's, London, superintending work on Leeds Castle.
  When Howard arrived in Toronto (at that time still the town of York) in 1833, he was the first professional architect in Toronto. His first public appointment was a teaching master at Upper Canada College (UCC), while developing an architectural practise. He remained affiliated with UCC until 1856. His practise thrived with commissions ranging from cottages to banks to public projects, including Queen's College of Kingston, Ontario, and the Provincial Lunatic Asylum in Toronto (modelled on the National Gallery (London)).
  Howard started surveying work in 1836, becoming Toronto's official surveyor in 1843, a position he held until 1855. He surveyed Toronto harbour, laid out the 'Esplanade' on the waterfront, and subdivided the harbour's peninsula (now known as Toronto Island). He also did surveying work for cemeteries and private land sub-divisions. In 1883, the Governor-General of Canada conferred upon him the dignity of "Royal Canadian Academician."
  In other endeavours, Howard was involved with the militia which put down William Lyon Mackenzie's 1837 rebellion. Howard is recorded as leading the scouting party which found the rebels' location on December 7, 1837. He would become a lieutenant the following year. In 1841, Howard received license to practise as a public notary. In 1847, Howard was named president of a copper mine on Lake Huron. In 1848, Howard served as president and treasurer of the Toronto Society of Arts. In 1853, Howard was appointed a Justice of the Peace for a term of four years.
  Howard bought some land of his own, including the property now known as High Park, which he intended as a sheep farm. To the east of High Park, Howard owned Sunnyside Farm, on which he built Sunnyside Villa. It is now the site of St. Joseph's Health Centre. The area retains the nickname of 'Sunnyside'. In 1873, in return for a yearly pension of CA$1,200, Howard deeded 120 acres (49 ha) of his High Park property to the city as a public park. The remaining 45 acres (18 ha) and Colborne Lodge became city property at his death. Howard was appointed forest ranger by the city in 1878, with responsibility for improving the park.
caption: John George Howard in front of the Toronto Court and Gaol (1835)
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