James Patterson Sheraton

James Paterson Sheraton was born in Saint John, New Brunswick on November 29, 1841. He began his studies at an early age under the direction of his grandfather, Dr. James Paterson, who was the long time principal of a grammar school in Saint John and was regarded as one of the most distinguished scholars in the Maritimes. At the age of 20, Sheraton graduated with honors in Classics and Natural Science from the University of New Brunswick. He continued his studies for the ministry at King’s College in Windsor, Nova Scotia under the tutelage of the Bishop of Fredericton, John Medley. In December 1864, he was ordained as a deacon by Bishop Medley and a year later he entered the priesthood. He first served several missionary parishes before he assumed the rectorship of the parish of Pictou, Nova Scotia, spending 13 years in total in parochial work. In 1866 he married his first wife, Margaret Wright Sheraton, who passed away in 1874. In 1875, Sheraton remarried; his second wife, Rachel Mary Sheraton, survived him.

In 1877, he moved to Toronto to become the principal of the Protestant Episcopal Divinity School, later renamed Wycliffe College. Under his leadership the college found its home on College Street. Later, Sheraton oversaw the building of the Hoskin Ave. location, which was completed in the Autumn of 1891. Sheraton was personally involved in the education of all of the students at Wycliffe and was affectionately referred to as “the little Doctor”, due to his diminutive stature. He was described as a great scholar of Hebrew. Sheraton was incredibly well read, not just in theology and Biblical studies, but also in natural science, classical literature, and philosophy. In 1883, Sheraton received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Queen’s University and in 1886 the University of Toronto conferred a LL.D. upon him. It was under Sheraton that Wycliffe College began to grow. Sheraton retained the position of principal until he passed away due to “overwork” on January 24, 1906 in Toronto.

Aside from his duties at Wycliffe, Sheraton also served as a member of the governing body of Ridley College at St. Catharines, Ontario; as president of the Toronto branch of the Lord’s Day Alliance; as vice-president of the Evangelical Alliance; as vice-president of the Upper Canada Bible Society; and as a member of the Board of Examiners for divinity degrees in the ecclesiastical province of Canada. He was the editor of The Evangelical Churchman for a number of years. Additionally, he regularly attended meetings of the Senate of the University of Toronto as a member who was well regarded for his dedication to the university.

James Paterson Sheraton is the author of a number of printed pamphlets, including: Christian science ([Toronto, 1891]); The history and principles of Wycliffe College: an address to the alumni . . . October 7th, 1891 (Toronto, 1891); The inspiration and authority of the Holy Scriptures: an address to the alumni, October 3rd, 1893 (Toronto, 1893); The idea of the church: an address to the alumni, October 8th, 1896 (Toronto, [1896]); Our Lord’s teaching concerning himself ([Princeton, N.J.?], 1904); The higher criticism . . . (Toronto, 1904); and The higher criticism of the Old Testament, intro. William Caven (New York, 1905).

Hayes, Alan. “Sheraton, James Paterson.” Dictionary of Canadian Heritage Online. http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=7065&interval=20&&PHPSESSID=654bv631vj166ft4num7n5kpf0

Jocz, Jacob. “The Principalship of James Paterson Sheraton, 1877-1906.” In The Enduring Word, A Centennial History of Wycliffe College, edited by Arnold Edinborough. Toronto:
University of Toronto Press, 1978.

Stackhouse, Reginald. The Way Forward, A history of Wycliffe College, Toronto, 1877-2002. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2002.