Joseph Sheard (1813–1883) was an English architect and politician. He was Mayor of Toronto from 1871 to 1872.Born in Hornsea, near Hull, Yorkshire, England, his father died when he was only 6 weeks old, leaving 4 young children to be raised by his mother. He quit school at the age of 9 and found a job as an apprentice with a barrel-maker.Aged 19, he sailed from Hull on 15 April 1833 aboard the "Foster" landing in Quebec.