Simcoe, << SIHM koh, >> John Graves (1752-1806), was a British soldier and the first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada. He served in this position from 1791 to 1797. During the American Revolution (1775-1783), he raised and commanded a corps of loyalists called the Queen’s Rangers. As lieutenant governor of Upper Canada, he helped found Toronto. Simcoe was born on Feb. 25, 1752, in Cotterstock, England. He died on Oct. 26, 1806. He died on Oct. 26, 1806.