Francis Henry Medcalf

Medcalf was born in Delgany, County Wicklow, Ireland, in 1803 and moved to Upper Canada in 1819 with his parents, William and Martha Medcalf, and seven siblings. They lived on the Big Otter Creek in Bayham, Ontario. In 1823, Medcalf relocated to Philadelphia in the United States, where he began working as a blacksmith and millwright. He married Mary Harrison in Philadelphia before returning with her to Canada in 1839 to run several foundries in Toronto; they had four sons and two daughters together. He opened the Don Foundry and Machine Shop in 1847, which specialized in the production of agricultural machinery and steam engines. ==Political career==

Medcalf was heavily involved in the Protestant organization the Orange Order, which had a strong presence in Toronto. Between 1854 and 1862, he held master positions at various Orange Order lodges in Toronto, and was a lodge grand master of Canada West in the period 1862–64. a reference to his foundry work boots, an image he used to promote his "rags-to-riches story". One of his most significant achievements during his time in office was in the development of the Cabbagetown fire department in Toronto. ==Death==

Medcalf died in Toronto on March 26, 1880, at age 77, and was buried at St. James Cemetery. His son Alfred took over the foundry business after Medcalf's death. ==References==