Ottawa is a historic city. Urban development and the establishment of municipal governance in Ottawa began in the mid-19th century. Initially, the small settlement of Bytown was governed by eight mayors. From 1847 to 1854, Bytown residents elected a new mayor annually. One of these elected officials was John Bower Lewis, who became Bytown’s second mayor in 1848 and, in 1855, the first mayor of the newly named city of Ottawa. He had the great honour of being the first mayor of a growing city, leading with competence and making a significant contribution to its further development and prosperity. Read more on ottawayes.com.
Early Life
John Bower Lewis was born on March 18, 1817, in Paris, France. He was the son of a captain in the 88th Regiment of Light Infantry. Shortly after his birth, the Lewis family decided to relocate, and in 1820, they settled near the Bytown settlement.
As John grew up, he aspired to become a lawyer. In his youth, he left Bytown for Toronto to study law under the distinguished 19th-century lawyer James Boulton. Thanks to his academic success, John was admitted to the bar in 1839. He dedicated many years to his legal career, working within the bar association. Along the way, he encountered numerous challenging cases but built a reputation as a skilled professional.
Wife and Children
In love, as in his career, John faced challenges. Over 16 years, he was married three times. His first and shortest marriage was to Anna Eccles in 1840. Anna was the daughter of Captain Eccles from Toronto. The couple enjoyed a brief but happy union before Anna passed away in 1841.
John remarried in 1843, this time to Helen Street, the daughter of Captain Benjamin Street, who served in the Royal Navy. They lived happily for 13 years, raising six children together, until Helen’s passing in 1856.
His third marriage took place in 1856, to Elizabeth Susan Wilson, the daughter of a prominent squire from Gloucester. John and Elizabeth had three children together: Lilian Mary, Hugh Bower, and Anna Eva.
In total, John Bower Lewis had eleven children from his three marriages.
Career Rise
Ottawa, 1859. John’s political career began in 1847 when he decided to run for Dalhousie District Council and participate in the election campaign for the position of Bytown’s first mayor. However, his initial attempt in 1847 was unsuccessful. Determined to try again, he ran for city council in 1848. Between 1848 and 1849, he was elected as the head of Bytown, becoming the town’s second mayor and making a significant contribution to its development.
After John, six more mayors served in Bytown, each elected for one-year terms. By the mid-19th century, it became clear that such short terms were insufficient for making lasting contributions to the settlement’s growth. Nevertheless, all eight Bytown mayors from 1847 to 1854 worked diligently to improve the town.
In 1854, Bytown was officially incorporated as the city of Ottawa, leading to new municipal elections. At the age of 37, John decided to run for Ottawa’s first mayoral election. In 1855, he won the race, becoming the first mayor of the newly prosperous city. He held the office from 1855 to 1857. That same year, he was also appointed magistrate of the city’s police division, a role he held from 1855 to 1869. In 1863, he was promoted to police commissioner.
John was also the head of the Ottawa Agricultural Society for a period.
In 1867, he achieved great success in his legal career, becoming a Queen’s Counsel and a member of the Law Society. In addition to practicing law in the city, he was actively involved in real estate transactions.
For the remainder of his life, John dedicated himself to the legal profession. During the 1860s and 1870s, he worked as a solicitor. In the 19th century, solicitors handled legal case preparations for barristers, who were the highest-ranking lawyers.
John Bower Lewis was a leader who always strived to improve the city and was deeply invested in Ottawa’s development. He was kind and ambitious, willing to lend a helping hand while also ensuring benefits for himself.
Political Views
Lewis held fairly conservative views. However, for him, the interests of Ottawa’s residents and the city itself always came first, even before party interests.
In the 1870s, he stood his ground in political conflicts against John A. Macdonald, whose policies posed a threat to Ottawa’s education system. Instead, he supported Richard Scott’s parliamentary candidacy, as Scott had a strong vision for Ottawa’s development, including infrastructure improvements.
In 1872, John Bower Lewis and Joseph CARRIER, a successful community leader, were elected to the Parliament of Canada from Ottawa by acclamation. The city had only two parliamentary seats, and once again, Lewis was fortunate to be part of Ottawa’s history.
In 1873, he had the opportunity to become Canada’s Minister of Finance. However, due to a scandal involving Macdonald, he had to leave the party and decline the position.
Lewis continuously opposed Macdonald’s policies, considering them unacceptable and detrimental to Ottawa’s growth. His lifelong goal was to protect the interests of the people in the Ottawa Valley.
Later Years
In 1874, Lewis ran for Parliament again, this time as an independent backed by the Liberals. However, he did not win. During the election campaign, John Bower Lewis passed away. His heart stopped at the age of 56.
His death marked a shift in Ottawa’s political landscape. He was loved by the people of Ottawa and his colleagues in Parliament, who mourned him deeply.