Clinton in Huron County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Dr. Robert Hamilton Coats 1874-1960
Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 22, 2025
1. Dr. Robert Hamilton Coats 1874-1960 Marker
Inscription.
Dr. Robert Hamilton Coats 1874-1960. . Born near here, Coats was educated locally and graduated in 1896 from the University of Toronto. In 1902 Mackenzie King, then Deputy Minister of Labour, persuaded Coats to become editor of the Labour Gazette. In this position he became convinced of the need for reliable government statistics. In 1915 he was appointed Canadas first Dominion Statistician and Controller of the Census. Coats drafted the legislation which established the Dominion Bureau of Statistics three years later. Twice a member of statistical committees with the League of Nations, he also served, after retiring in 1942, as a statistical adviser to the Ontario Government and to the United Nations. Coats was honoured by three Canadian universities and was a member of many foreign statistical societies.
Born near here, Coats was educated locally and graduated in 1896 from the University of Toronto. In 1902 Mackenzie King, then Deputy Minister of Labour, persuaded Coats to become editor of the Labour Gazette. In this position he became convinced of the need for reliable government statistics. In 1915 he was appointed Canadas first Dominion Statistician and Controller of the Census. Coats drafted the legislation which established the Dominion Bureau of Statistics three years later. Twice a member of statistical committees with the League of Nations, he also served, after retiring in 1942, as a statistical adviser to the Ontario Government and to the United Nations. Coats was honoured by three Canadian universities and was a member of many foreign statistical societies.
Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation.
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. 43° 37.039′ N, 81° 32.08′ W. Marker is in Clinton, Ontario, in Huron County.
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It is at the intersection of Princess Street East and Gibbings Street, on the right when traveling west on Princess Street East. The marker stands on the grounds of Central Huron Secondary School. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 56 Gibbings Street, Clinton ON N0M 1L0, Canada. Touch for directions.
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.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Balls Bridge (was approx. 12.7 kilometers away but has been confirmed missing).
circa 1930
3. Dr. Robert Hamilton Coats
Source: Wikipedia (Statistics Canada) public domain
Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 71 times since then and 14 times this year. Last updated on September 10, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 24, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
