Born in Montreal, Rankin moved to this province about 1830 and qualified as a deputy provincial surveyor in 1836. The next year he was commissioned as an ensign in the Queen's Light Infantry and captured the enemy's flag in the "Battle of Windsor" (December 1838). He commanded the Ninth Upper Canadian Military District 1855-1861 and the 23rd Essex Volunteer Light Infantry Battalion 1866-1868. Vigorous and enterprising, Rankin organized the group of Ojibwa Indians which toured Britain and staged the first "Wild West" show there in 1843. His business interests expanded to include shipping, railroads, real estate and several mining projects in the Algoma District. First elected to the Parliament of Canada in 1854 Rankin served three terms as the member for Essex.

Location

In Ernest Atkinson Park, Riverside Drive, Windsor

Themes

• People
• Politics and law
• War and conflict