J. Douglas (John Douglas) Borthwick

Born in Scotland and educated at Edinburgh University, John Douglas Borthwick came to Canada around 1850. He taught in several places in Upper Canada before settling in Montreal, where he was ordained in the Church of England in 1866.

He served at St. Mary’s Church in Hochelaga and later worked as chaplain at the Montreal prison. Alongside his church work, he became a prolific writer whose books explored Montreal’s history, the Diocese of Montreal, Scottish song, and a wide range of historical subjects.

Borthwick is especially remembered for preserving details about Montreal’s streets, institutions, and notable citizens. His writing offers a vivid window into how the city understood its own story in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.