Nairn in Middlesex County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Sir George W. Ross

1841 - 1914

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 30, 2025

1. Sir George W. Ross Marker

Inscription. Born on a nearby farm, Ontario's fifth prime minister was for many years a teacher and a school inspector in Middlesex County. He was elected to the federal parliament in 1872 as Liberal member for Middlesex West. In 1883, he entered the Ontario government as minister of education under Oliver Mowat. When A.S. Hardy retired in 1899, G.W. Ross became prime minister of Ontario and provincial treasurer. His government, 1899-1905, promoted distribution of hydro-electric power and the construction of a provincial railway for northern Ontario. Appointed to the Senate in 1907, he was its Liberal leader from 1911 until his death. Ross was knighted for his public services in 1911.

Erected by Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.

Location. 43° 6.713′ N, 81° 33.427′ W. Marker is in Nairn, Ontario, in Middlesex County. It is at the intersection of Queens Avenue and Mill Crescent, on the left when traveling north on Queens Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4430 Mill Crescent, Nairn ON N0M 1A0, 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

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

other markers are within 16 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ailsa Craig Main Street (approx. 4.3 kilometers away); Ailsa Craig (approx. 4.3 kilometers away); a different marker also named Ailsa Craig (approx. 4.3 kilometers away); The Founding of Parkhill (approx. 11.7 kilometers away); The Wilberforce Settlement / L’Établissement Wilberforce (approx. 15 kilometers away); The Ivan Hearn Barn (approx. 15 kilometers away); The “Donnelly” Log Cabin (approx. 15 kilometers away); The Founding of Lucan (approx. 15 kilometers away).

Also see . . . Ross, Sir George William (Dictionary of Canadian Biography).

Ross sat in the (house of) commons for 11 years. His election in 1882 was successfully protested in October 1883. Rather than try to regain his seat, Ross accepted the invitation of Oliver Mowat, premier of Ontario, to join his cabinet as minister of education. He was elected for Middlesex West at a by-election on 14 Dec. 1883. Mowat’s first choice had been George Monro Grant, the principal of Queen’s College in Kingston, but Grant had insisted that education be removed from the political realm and Mowat did not want education to revert to the sort of bureaucratic fiefdom that had existed under Ryerson. In Ross, Mowat found a minister who was acceptable to the teaching profession
Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 30, 2025

2. Sir George W. Ross Marker
On the right (partially obscured) of the tree
and could carry a marginal riding, and who could administer a department in ways that would extend state authority.

(Submitted on June 2, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

1901

3. The Hon. G.W. Ross, 1901

Source: Wikipedia (British Library). Public domain

Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 2, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 114 times since then and 11 times this year. Last updated on September 10, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 2, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.