Guelph in Wellington County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
John Galt
1779-1839
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 26, 2022
1. John Galt Marker
History maker, novelist, poet and superintendent of the Canada Company, he founded Guelph on April 23, 1827. The opening of the Huron Tract in Upper Canada has been described as the most important single attempt at settlement in Canadian history. This progressive community stands as a monument to his efforts and ingenuity.
Born in Irvine, Scotland, May 2, 1779. Died at Greenock, Scotland, April 11, 1839.
Erected by a grateful citizenry in 1979, marking the bi-centennial of his birth and the 100th anniversary of Guelph as a City.
Erected 1979 by Citizens of Guelph.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is April 23, 1827.
Location. 43° 32.646′ N, 80° 14.87′ W. Marker is in Guelph, Ontario, in Wellington County. It is on Carden Street just west of Wyndham Street North, on the left when traveling west. Marker and sculpture are located near the northeast corner of the Guelph Provincial Courthouse grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 59 Carden Street, Guelph ON N1H 2Z9, Canada.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Huron-Perth-Waterloo-Wellington Area and in Southwestern Ontario. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John Galt's Town Plan (here, next to this marker); Guelph City Hall 1856 (a few steps from this marker); Guelph City Hall / L'hτtel de ville de Guelph (a few steps from this marker); Guelph's Original Town Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); The Toronto-Dominion Bank (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Provincial Winter Fair Building (about 90 meters away); The Home of the First Mayor of Guelph (about 150 meters away); Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception / LΙglise Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Guelph.
Also see . . .
1. John Galt.
The Canadian Encyclopedia, unknown
2. John Galt
While struggling to survive as a man of letters, Galt became involved with Canadian affairs, first as agent for those claiming losses in the War of 1812, and subsequently (1824) as secretary of the board of directors of the Canada Company, a colonization company created to settle part of Upper Canada (Ontario). Galt came to Upper Canada on several occasions. He was superintendent of the Canada Company from 1826 to 1829 and founded the town of Guelph in 1827; the town of Galt (now Cambridge) was named after him. He had continual conflict with the directors and was eventually recalled and spent his last years in impoverished ill health.(Submitted on October 27, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. The Canada Company, John Galt, and the Founding of Guelph.
The Canada Company was chartered in 1825 as a land and colonization company based in London, England. In 1826, the company purchased from the British Crown about 2.5 million acres of land on the shores of Lake Huron in Upper Canada (modern-day Ontario). Novelist and colonial promoter John Galt (17791839) was(Submitted on October 27, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)the first superintendent of the Canada Company. Galt arrived in Upper Canada in 1826 and founded the city of Guelph April 23, 1827.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 26, 20223. John Galt Monument(marker is mounted at base of monument)
3. John Galt (novelist).
John Galt was a Scottish novelist, entrepreneur, and political and social commentator. Galt has been called the first political novelist in the English language, due to being the first novelist to deal with issues of the Industrial Revolution.(Submitted on October 27, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)In 1824, Galt was appointed Secretary of the Canada Company, a charter company established to aid in the colonization of the Huron Tract in Upper Canada along the eastern shore of Lake Huron. After the company was incorporated by royal charter on August 19, 1826, Galt traveled across the Atlantic on the man-of-war HMS Romney, arriving at New York City and then traveling by road. While in Canada, Galt lived in York in Upper Canada (now Ontario), but located the headquarters of the Canada Company at Guelph, a town he also founded in 1827.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 26, 2022
4. John Galt Monument Artist
John Miecznikowski
1979
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 26, 2022
5. John Galt Memorial Tablet
Erected by the
City of Guelph
April 23rd 1927
in honoured memory
of
John Galt
its
founder
April 23rd 1827
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 26, 2022
6. John Galt Monument
Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 552 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 27, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on July 5, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 27, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
