Researching John Creighton

The stone monument to John Creighton in St. John's Anglican Church (Lunenburg) was created by John Bacon (1777–1859), a nineteenth century sculptor. (Bacon created six monuments in St. Paul's Cathedral and many in Westminster Abbey.)

He was born in Somersetshire, the son of John Creighton, Jr. and the grandson of John Creighton, one of the first settlers at Lunenburg. Creighton came to Halifax at a young age, where he studied law with Lewis Morris Wilkins and was admitted to practice as an attorney in 1816. In 1821, he was named a Queen's Counsel and served as Crown Prosecutor. In 1859, he was named to the province's Legislative Council. Creighton was named president for the Council in 1875 and served until his death in Lunenburg three years later.

The son of Hugh Creighton and Mary Young, he was born near Clandeboye, County Down and came to Kingston with his family in 1823. Creighton was educated at the Midland District Grammar School. He worked as an apprentice printer in Montreal, then returned to Kingston to work for the Kingston Chronicle & Gazette. He became president of the Kingston Typographical Society in 1844. In 1846, he moved to the Kingston Argus; he also contributed articles to the paper. He became a clerk in a book and stationery store in 1851, later buying the store. Creighton later added printing and bookbinding services. In 1866, he was named police magistrate and, in 1870, acting warden for the Kingston Penitentiary. He was appointed warden the following year. As warden, he was held in high regard by both the inmates and his superiors.

In 1850, he married Frances, the sister of architect William Coverdale.

During his tenure as warden, Cedarhedge, the official warden's residence was constructed.

From 1859 to 1862, he represented Victoria ward on Kingston city council. Creighton was elected mayor in 1863 and reelected by acclamation in 1864 and 1865.

He suffered two heart attacks, the second in 1884. He died the following year in Portsmouth at the age of 67.

John Creighton obtained the Letters Testimonial of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in 1792, and became a Member soon after. He served as surgeon to the Foundlings' Hospital for the period of 30 years.

It seems certain that Creighton first introduced the practice of vaccination into Ireland. He served, " without fee or reward," as Physician to the Cowpock Institution, established in 1800 at 26 Exchequer-street in Dublin. Creighton had a large practice, and his patients were amongst the most fashionable classes. He attended the family of the great Duke of Wellington when, as Sir Arthur Wellesley, he was Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant. Creighton was regarded as peculiarly skilful in the treatment of diseases incidental to infancy. In 1794, he succeeded Sir Henry Jebb as Professor of Midwifery in the RCSI.