George Gurnett

George Gurnett (* 1792, † November 17, 1861 in Horsham or Lewes / England or Toronto ) was a Canadian journalist, politician and the fourth mayor of Toronto.

Gurnett emigrated in the 1820s from England to Virginia and later to Ancaster in Upper Canada, and finally in 1829 to York a. With the renaming of York in Toronto in May 1834, he was elected to the City Council and served twice as mayor, the first time from January 1837 to January 1938 and the second time from January 1848 to January 1850. Gurnett was politically a Tory. Similar to Lieutenant Francis Bond Head Gurnett was on the rebellions of 1837 ill-prepared. In late October they left around 6000 firearms along with ammunition unattended in the hall deposit. Although he was at the defense of the city, he could not benefit from and lost in 1838 against John Powell the office of mayor.

George Gurnett was married twice and had six children.