Grier, Edmund Wyly, 1862-1957 : Sir Edmund Wyly Grier (1862-1957) was born in Melbourne, Australia and lived in England and Canada before studying art in Europe. He showed an early interest and ability in drawing. He studied in London at the Slade School of Art under Alphonse Legros, in Rome at the Scuola Libera, and in Paris at the Académie Julien under Adolphe Bouguereau and Tony Robert-Fleury. He exhibited from 1886 to 1895 at the Royal Society of British Artists and at the Royal Academy. In 1891 he returned to Canada to stay, opening a portrait studio in Toronto. Grier won recognition and admission to the Royal Canadian Academy becoming its president in 1929. He painted numerous portraits of politicians, corporate leaders and other notable contemporaries, his first commissioned portrait being in 1888 and his last in 1947. From 1897 to 1903 he served with the Royal Canadian Artillery and became vice-president of the Canadian Military Institute in 1903. He was knighted in 1935. Macdonald, Colin S. A Dictionary of Canadian Artists. Volume two G to Jackson. Ottawa, 1968.
Blake, Edward, 1833-1912 : (Dominick) Edward Blake was born in Adelaide township, Upper Canada and educated at Upper Canada College and University of Toronto. A prominent equity lawyer and constitutional authority, he was a Liberal member of the Ontario Legislative Assembly, 1867-1872, serving as leader of the Opposition, 1869-1871 and premier, 1871-1872. He became a member of the House of Commons, 1867-1891, serving as minister without portfolio, 1873-1874; minister of Justice, 1875-1877; president of the Privy Council, 1877-1878, and leader of the Opposition, 1880-1887. He became an Irish Nationalist member of the United Kingdom House of Commons, 1892-1907.
Cronyn, Margaret 1835-1917 : Margaret Cronyn, daughter of Bishop Benjamin Cronyn (first Bishop of the Anglican diocese of Huron), was born in London, Ontario, in 1835. She was sent to boarding school in Toronto. On 6 January 1858, she married Dominick Edward Blake who was a lawyer and politician.
Her gentle and beautiful character found expression chiefly in religious and philanthropic interests. During her life, she was identified with the Boys' Home, the McAll Mission and the Church of England Women's Auxiliary.
