Patrick Joseph Larkin (March 1, 1829 – August 31, 1900) was a Canadian ship's captain, businessman and politician.Peter D. A. Warwick
"LARKIN, PATRICK JOSEPH"
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Dictionary of Canadian Biography The ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography'' (''DCB''; ) is a dictionary of biographical entries for individuals who have contributed to the history of Canada. The ''DCB'', which was initiated in 1959, is a collaboration between the University of Toro ...

''. Patrick Joseph Larkin was one of eight children who emigrated with their parents to

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

, Canada, in 1837. His father died while on the ship, and his mother led the family to

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

. By 1842 Larkin had gone to sea, eventually becoming a captain, a ship owner, and was involved in ship construction. From the 1870s he served as a municipal councillor in

St. Catharines St. Catharines is the most populous city in Canada's Niagara Region, the eighth largest urban area in the province of Ontario. As of 2021, St. Catharines has an area of and 136,803 residents. It lies in Southern Ontario, south of Toronto ac ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, becoming mayor of the city from 1882 to 1883."Ontario's City Mayors: Biographical Sketches of the Principal Mayors-elect: The Mayors of Toronto, Hamilton, London, Ottawa, Kingston, Belleville, St. Catharines, St. Thomas, and Brantford". '' The Globe'', January 4, 1882. In 1875, he formed the contracting firm, Larkin, Connolly, and Connolly, its first contract being to build a section of the Welland canal. The company owned a dock, a harbour works, and portions of a railway. Larkin invested in the grocery business and supplied timer. The Dictionary of Canadian Biography says of him

Larkin was the last of St Catharines's "Big Four," the others being James Murray, Sylvester Neelon, and James Norris. Survived by his wife, five daughters, and a son, he left an estate valued at about $245,655, which included a livery stable and hotel in St Catharines, land in Spallumcheen, B.C., and his interest ($57,359) in the Iroquois contract.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Larkin, Patrick Joseph 1829 births 1900 deaths 19th-century mayors of places in Ontario Canadian businesspeople Politicians from County Galway Immigrants to pre-Confederation Canada 19th-century Irish businesspeople Mayors of St. Catharines