View source for Elijah Leonard

{{short description|Canadian politician}}
{{About|the Canadian businessman and senator|his father|Elijah Leonard, Sr.}}

[[Image:ElijahLeonard23.jpg|thumb|right|Elijah Leonard <br> Source: Library and Archives Canada]]

'''Elijah Leonard''' (September 10, 1814 &ndash; May 14, 1891) was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He was a [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] member of the [[Senate of Canada]] from 1867 to 1891.

He was born on a farm near [[Syracuse, New York]] in 1814, the son of [[Elijah Leonard, Sr.|Elijah Leonard]]. In 1830, he moved with his family to [[Normandale, Ontario|Normandale]] in [[Upper Canada]], where his father was working at a [[foundry]] owned by [[Joseph Van Norman]]. In 1834, with his father and a partner, he established a foundry at [[St. Thomas, Ontario|St. Thomas]]. The partner was bought out and his father retired, leaving him in charge of the business.

In 1840, Leonard set up a machine shop and foundry at [[London, Ontario]], on York street where he began to manufacture agricultural equipment and then cars, tracks and other equipment for railways. The company now known as E. Leonard and Sons, went on to manufacture steam boilers and steam-powered equipment. In 1847, he married Emeline, the daughter of [[Elijah Cocker Woodman]]. He was elected to the [[London City Council|London municipal council]] in 1854 and became [[List of mayors of London, Ontario|mayor]] in 1857. In 1862, he was elected to the [[Legislative Council of the Province of Canada]] for Malahide division; Leonard was named to the Senate after [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]]. Besides his manufacturing interests, he also helped found the London and Lake Huron Railway, the London Savings Bank and the Huron and Erie Savings and Loan Society.

Leonard died in London, Ontario in 1891.

After his death, his two sons continued to operate the company, which remained family-run until 1945.

==References==
* {{DictCanbio|ID=6229}}
* {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=6345}}

{{Mayors of London, Ontario}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leonard, Elijah}}
[[Category:1814 births]]
[[Category:1891 deaths]]
[[Category:Members of the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian senators from Ontario]]
[[Category:Liberal Party of Canada senators]]
[[Category:Mayors of London, Ontario]]
[[Category:19th-century mayors of places in Ontario]]