The Cawthra family of Toronto was famous for its business, social and cultural contributions to the city. It is one of the oldest families in Toronto, and many descendants of the family's founder, Joseph Cawthra, continue to play significant roles in Toronto society.

History

Joseph Cawthra migrated to Canada from Yorkshire in 1803. In 1809, he acquired a large parcel of land along the Ontario lakeshore and the Credit River, near the present-day Port Credit. The narrow dirt road that cut through his property is now the Cawthra Road in Mississauga. Sometime later, the Cawthra family moved to the Town of York, where William Cawthra acquired several properties. One such property on Lot 19 Concession 3 on Yonge Street would later become Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.

Notable members