John Cawthra (1789–1851)[1] was a merchant, distiller and political figure in Upper Canada.
[2] He represented Simcoe from 1828 to 1830 in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada as a Reformer.
[1] He was born in England somewhere near Guiseley, the son of Joseph Cawthra and Mary Turnpenny,[1] and came to Toronto with his father while still young.
[1] A heritage marker in Newmarket marks the site of his trading post, later replaced by Cawthra House, his residence, a general store and the town's first bank.
[3] His son was Henry Cawthra (1830–1904), a barrister, and his daughter Mary (d. 1882) was the mother of William Mulock.