James Lesslie (publisher)
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James Lesslie (November 22, 1802 – April 19, 1885) was an Ontario businessman and publisher.
He was born in Dundee, Scotland in 1802, the son of a bookseller, and came to Kingston, Upper Canada with a brother and sister in 1822 as part of a plan to relocate the family business to Canada. Lesslie and Sons operated stores in York (later Toronto), Kingston and Dundas. In 1826, James took over the operation of the York store. The stores expanded from books and stationery to include pharmaceutical products. In 1834, Lesslie was elected to the first city council for the city of Toronto.
He supported William Lyon Mackenzie and the Reformers. In 1835, he helped establish the Bank of the People, serving as general manager and later president after John Rolph. Although he appears to have taken no part in the Upper Canada Rebellion, he was arrested in December 1837 but released two weeks later. Disenchanted, he became part of a plan by a number of Reformers to relocate to Iowa. After hearing of possible changes following Lord Durham's assignment as governor general, Lesslie decided to remain in Upper Canada.
In 1842, he took over the operation of the Toronto Examiner from Francis Hincks. After George Brown established The Globe in 1844, the Examiner began to take a more radical stance, later aligning itself with the Clear Grits. The paper lobbied for the abolition of the clergy reserves and the separation of church and state. In 1855, after a number of competing newspapers had been established, Lesslie sold the Examiner to George Brown.
Lesslie sold off his business interests around the same time. He served several terms as school trustee and also served as a justice of the peace.
He died in the village of Eglinton, now part of Toronto, in 1885.
