Edward Blake

Politician and lawyer Edward Blake was the second premier of Ontario and, later, the leader of Liberal Party of Canada. Recruited into politics by George Brown, he won the 1871 provincial election, establishing a Liberal dynasty that ruled Ontario for more than 30 years. He later became leader of the federal Liberal Party, and eventually resigned to sit in the British House of Commons as an Irish Nationalist Member of Parliament. Upon his retirement, Blake returned to Canada to serve the University of Toronto as senator and chancellor.