STRACHAN, JOHN (1778-1867), first bishop of Toronto, was born at Aberdeen, Scotland, on April 12, 1778. After taking his degree at Aberdeen he emigrated in 1799 to Canada. There he was ordained (1803) and appointed to the parish of Cornwall, and in 1812 to York.
Strachan was appointed to the executive council of Upper Canada in 1815. He was soon the leading spirit in that dominant group known in Upper Canadian history as the Family Compact. In 182o he was appointed by Sir Peregrine Maitland a member of the legislative council in order that the governor might have a confidential medium through whom to make communication to the council. At the instance of the lieutenant-governor he went to England in 1824, to discuss various colonial questions with the colonial secretary. He paid a second visit to England in 1826-27 to obtain a royal charter for King's College. In 1827 Strachan became archdeacon of York.
The break-up of the Liverpool ministry in 1827 interrupted Strachan's plans for placing the government endowments for religion and education under the Episcopal Church. Adverse criticism and a suggestion from the colonial office led to his resig nation from the executive council, but he declined to resign from the legislative council.
On the death of Bishop Stewart of Quebec the Canadian see was divided, and Strachan was made bishop of Toronto in August 1839. He energetically opposed the act of 184o, which sought
to settle the Clergy Reserves question by dividing the proceeds among the different religious denominations, the larger share still remaining with the Church of England.
The university of King's College was finally established, with certain modifications of its charter, in 1843, Bishop Strachan being the first president. The renewed agitation finally resulted in the elimination of all religious tests by the act of 1849, which also changed the name to that of the university of Toronto. Strachan at once took steps to found another university which should be completely under the control of the Episcopal Church, hence the establishment of Trinity University, which was opened in 1852. Bishop Strachan also raised once more the question of the disposal of the Clergy Reserves. The Reserves were com pletely secularized in 1854, provision being made for the life interest of beneficiaries at the time. Bishop Strachan devoted the latter years of his long life entirely to his episcopal duties, and by introducing the diocesan synod he furnished the Episcopal Church in Canada with a more democratic organ of government. He died in November 1867.