STRACHAN, John, Canadian Anglican bishop, born in Aberdeen, Scotland, 12 April, 1778; died in Toronto, 1 November, 1867. He was graduated at King's college, Aberdeen, in 1796, studied theology at St. Andrew's, and taught in a village school until 1799, when he emigrated to Canada. He opened a school at Kingston and taught for three years, preparing himself in the mean time to take orders in the Church of England. He was ordained a deacon by Bishop Mountain in May, 1803, a priest, 3 June, 1804, and appointed to the mission of Cornwall, where he opened a grammar-school, and had among his pupils several that have since become eminent in Canada. In 1812 he removed to York (now Toronto), and became rector in that place. In 1813, after the explosion by which General Zebulon M. Pike was killed at the old fort, York, he visited Gem Henry Dearborn, and was successful in dissuading him from sacking the town. In 1818 he was nominated an executive councillor, took his seat in the legislative council, and remained a member of the government till 1836, and of the upper house till 1841. In 1825 he became archdeacon of York, and in 1839 bishop of Toronto. After 1818 he took an active part in politics, and a bitter strife arose between his party on the one side and that of William L. Mackenzie on the other, which eventually culminated in the rebellion of 1837. During the time that he was a member of the executive council fifty-seven rectories were established in Upper Canada at his suggestion, and the foundation of Trinity college, Toronto, was largely owing to his efforts. He received the degree of LL.D. from the University of St. Andrew's and that of D. D. from the University of Aberdeen in 1807. Bishop Strachan published seventy essays in the "Kingston Gazette" in 1811 under the name of "Rickoner," and several letters and pamphlets. He practically ruled the Church of England in Upper Canada during his lifetime, and did more than any other person to establish it securely in that part of the country.