John Hendrie was born in 1857 in Hamilton and was educated at Upper Canada College. He became a railway contractor and promoted the Hamilton Bridge Works. In 1885 he married Lena Henderson. A Member of Provincial Parliament from 1902 to 1914, he held the positions of Minister without Portfolio and Hydro-Electric Commissioner. He also commanded the 2nd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. Hendrie was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in 1914 and served until 1919. Much of his time in Office was spent helping the War Effort and hosting soldiers, seamen and dignitaries at Government House. He was knighted in 1915, and died in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1923.