Egerton Ryerson

Adolphus Egerton Ryerson (1803–1882) was a Canadian educator and Methodist minister who was a prominent contributor to the design of the Canadian public school system. After a stint editing the Methodist denominational newspaper The Christian Guardian, Ryerson was appointed Chief Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada by Governor General Sir Charles Metcalfe in 1844. In that role, he supported reforms such as creating school boards, making textbooks more uniform, and making education free. Because of his contributions to education in Ontario, he is the namesake of Ryerson University, Ryerson Press, and Ryerson, Ontario. Ryerson's educational theories were also influential in the creation and design of the Canadian Indian residential school system.