St. Thomas in Elgin County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Hon. Mitchell F. Hepburn 1896-1953

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 23, 2024

1. Hon. Mitchell F. Hepburn 1896-1953 Marker

Inscription. Ontario's eleventh prime minister was born in nearby Yarmouth Township and educated at St. Thomas Collegiate. After serving in World War I, he was elected to the federal parliament in 1926 as member for Elgin West. In 1930 he was named leader of the Ontario Liberal party and resigned his federal seat in 1934 to become prime minister of Ontario. His administration established pensions for the blind and the aged, compulsory pasteurization of milk, a Department of Municipal Affairs and, on the Grand River, the first provincial water control programme. Mitchell Hepburn resigned as prime minister in 1942 and, in 1945, retired to his farm near St. Thomas.

Erected by Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 42° 46.734′ N, 81° 11.756′ W. Marker is in St. Thomas, Ontario, in Elgin County. It is at the intersection of Talbot Street and Mary Street, on the right when traveling east on

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Talbot Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 446 Talbot Street, St Thomas ON N5P 1B9, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario 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 Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Elgin’s Finest (about 240 meters away, measured in a direct line); St. Thomas Street Railway: 1908 (about 240 meters away); Captain. Daniel Rapelje (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Elgin County Courthouse/ Palais de Justice Elgin County (1853) (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Elgin County Courthouse / Palais de Justice Elgin County (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Elgin County Courthouse/ Palais de Justice Elgin County (1898) (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Elgin County Courthouse/ Palais de Justice Elgin County (2014) (approx.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 23, 2024

2. Hon. Mitchell F. Hepburn 1896-1953 Marker

0.6 kilometers away); Col. the Hon. Thomas Talbot 1771-1853 (approx. 0.6 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Thomas.

Also see . . . Hepburn, Mitchell Frederick (Canadian Dictionary of Biography).

In the end we must conclude that Mitch Hepburn, in spite of his flaws and unfulfilled potential, did leave Ontario a better place as a result of his time in public office. And certainly it became a duller one without the mercurial politician once known as the “boy from Yarmouth” occupying centre stage. Leaders with personalities as contradictory as his – happy warrior one day, vindictive bully the next – have rarely appeared in the normally staid world of Ontario politics

(Submitted on September 2, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Hon. Mitchell F. Hepburn, official portrait image. Click for full size.

3. Hon. Mitchell F. Hepburn, official portrait

Source: Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 212 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 2, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.