John Stevenson, 1st Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stevenson_(Canadian_politician%29

http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=5849

John Stevenson (August 12, 1812 – April 1, 1884) was the first Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1867 to 1871 and served as Conservative MPP for Lennox. He served from 1867 until he left the legislature in 1871.

Born in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Stevenson's family moved to New York State (likely to the Albany, New York area and finally to Upper Canada. Steveson worked in various trades before entering politics:

flour mill operator

foundry owner

axe shopkeeper

brush factory owner

lumberman

shipping company owner

After his defeat in 1871 (he ran as an independent), he tried to run for office in 1878, but was defeated. He died in Napanee, Ontario in 1884.