Career
He served as mayor of North Bay from 1909 to 1910. The oldest of five children, Rankin moved to the United States with his family around 1868. The family returned to Scotland eight years later following the death of his mother.
His father died two years later.
Rankin came to Canada with the help of Reverend William Quarrier and was placed on the Murdoch McKenzie family farm near Orangeville. He came to North Bay with McKenzie"s son William in 1885.
In 1888, Rankin married William"s sister Elizabeth. In the same year, he established a grocery store in North Bay.
He retired from business in 1926.
Rankin served several years on the North Bay council. He also was chair of the board for the local Children"s Aid Society. Rankin was a promoter of the Georgian Bay Ship Canal.
