Career
He represented Renfrew South in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1875 to 1883 as a Liberal member. He was born in Gortmore, County Tipperary, Ireland in 1825, the son of John Bonfield, and came to Canada in 1848. He worked as a clerk for lumber merchant John Egan, later opened his own general store and afterwards became a lumber merchant in Eganville.
He served as reeve for Grattan Township.
The Township of Bonfield, Ontario was named in his honour.
