James Langstaff

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name = James Miles Langstaff


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birth_date = June 3, 1825
birth_place = Langstaff Corners, Upper Canada
death_date = 1885
death_place = Richmond Hill, Ontario
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resting_place = Richmond Hill Presbyterian Cemetery
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occupation = Doctor
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religion = Presbyterian
spouse = Mary Ann Langstaff (née Miller)
Louisa Langstaff (née Palmer)
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James Miles Langstaff (June 3, 1825 - 1889) was the reeve of Richmond Hill, Ontario in 1880 and a village councillor there in 1878. [cite web|url = http://edrh.rhpl.richmondhill.on.ca/default.asp?ID=saf|title = Appendix F. Community Organizations|work = Early Days in Richmond Hill - A History of the Community to 1930|author = Robert M. Stamp|publisher = Town of Richmond Hill Public Library|date = 1991]

Born in Richmond Hill, at the Langstaff residence around today's Highway 7 and Yonge Street, an area then known as Langstaff Corners. He was the son of Jon Langstaff and Lucy Milescite journal|title = A Rural Practice in Nineteenth-Century Ontario: The continuing medical education of James Miles Langstaff|author = Duffin, Jacalyn|date = 1988| journal = Canadian Bulletin of Medical History / Bulletin canadien d'histoire de la médecine|volume = 5|issue = 1|pages = 3–28| issn = 08232105|url = http://www.cbmh.ca/archive/00000148/] and grandson of Abner Mills. Langstaff first studied medicine as a "house pupil" under John Rolph in Toronto. He later travelled to study in England, at Guy's Hospital in London.cite web|url = http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/page.cfm?id=S31100001&sc=311|title = Langstaf S.S.|publisher = York Region District School Board] He was the son of Jon Langstaff and grandson of Abner Mills. After completing his schooling, he was licensed by the Upper Canada Medical Boardcite journal|url = http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/331/12/816|journal = New England Journal of Medicine|author = C. Stuart Houston|date = September 22, 1994|volume = 331|title = Book Review:The History of Medicine Langstaff: A Nineteenth-Century Medical Life] and he set up a medical practice in Unionville in April of 1849 but after only four months relocated it to Richmond Hill. In 1850 and 1851, Langstaff was listed as a professor at Rolph's Toronto School of Medicine. Langstaff married Mary Ann Miller in 1854. The couple had ten children, with three surviving to adulthood.

Langstaff also owned a sawmill in the area. Although his fees were the same as those suggested by the local medical association, he often did not collect them from the poor, or reduced them for various reasons, and the addition income from the sawmill was needed to support his family.

In 1878, Langstaff was elected to the Richmond Hill Village Council as a councillor. He served one year. In 1880, he was elected to the council as reeve. In 1882, the widowed Langstaff married Louisa Palmer, with whom he had four children.

Langstaff died in 1889, still an active doctor.

Langstaff Secondary School in Richmond Hill was opened in 1964 and named in his honour.Dr. James Langstaff Park in Richmond Hill is named in his honour.cite web|url = http://www.richmondhill.ca/documents/prc_langstaff_brochure.pdf|title = The Park|publisher = Town of Richmond Hill] It is part of the Langstaff Discovery Centre whose name more generally honours his family line.

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