who was william lyon mackenzie
William Lyon Mackenzie (March 12, 1795 â August 28, 1861) was a Scottish-Canadian journalist and politician. He was the first mayor of Toronto and was a leader during the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion. Early life & Immigration Background, early years in Scotland, and education, 1795â1820 William Lyon Mackenzie was born on March 12, 1795, in Scotland in the Dundee suburb Springfield.[1]