Egerton Ryerson

Adolphus Egerton Ryerson (24 March 1803 – 19 February 1882) was a Canadian educator, author, editor, and Methodist minister who was a prominent contributor to the design of the Ontario public school system.

An advocate against Christian sectarianism and control of Upper Canada by the wealthy Anglican elite, Ryerson staunchly opposed Clergy Reserves and promoted a system of free public education in Canada. Conversely, Ryerson was passionate about Christianization, favouring missionary work and protesting the removal of the Bible from Ontario schools.

Following his time as a missionary to the Mississaugas of the Credit River, Ryerson became founding editor of The Christian Guardian, and the first principal of Victoria College. He was appointed as Chief Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada by Governor General Sir Charles Metcalfe in 1844, where he supported reforms such as creating school boards, making textbooks more uniform, and making education free. His contributions to early education in Ontario led to him being memorialized with statues, and in the naming of several institutions and places in the province.

In an 1847 letter, Ryerson responded to a request from George Vardon, Assistant Superintendent General Indian Affairs, for his opinion on the design of an Indian industrial school system. Given the letter's 1898 reprinting as an appendix to a report on residential schools by the Indian Affairs Department, some have argued that Ryerson influenced the design of the Indian residential school system. However, given the system's implementation after his death and its differences to what he proposed, as well as Vardon's 1851 resignation, the extent of this influence is disputed. As a result, Ryerson has become a controversial figure in the past decade, including public protests and the removal of his name from a university in Toronto.

Ryerson was born on 24 March 1803 in Charlotteville Township, Upper Canada, to Joseph Ryerson (1761–1854), a United Empire Loyalist, a Lieutenant in the Prince of Wales' American Volunteers from Passaic County, New Jersey, and Sarah Mehetable Ryerson (née Stickney). He was one of six brothers – George, Samuel, William, John, and Edwy. Samuel was the only one of Egerton's brothers not to enter the Methodist ministry.

He joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at 17, and was forced to leave home by his Anglican father. After briefly studying Latin and Greek, he became a circuit rider. His first post was the York region surrounding Yonge Street. The circuit took four weeks to complete on foot or horseback, as it encompassed areas with roads in extremely poor condition.

Ryerson was appointed as a missionary to the Mississaugas of the Credit in 1826, while still on probation as a Methodist missionary. His journal records his feelings on arrival:

I have now arrived at my charge among the Indians. I feel an inexpressible joy in taking up my abode amongst them. I must now acquire a new language, to teach a new people.