Alexander McMartin
Encyclopedia
Alexander McMartin was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada
. He was the first person born in Upper Canada to serve in its Legislative Assembly
.
He was born in Charlottenburgh Township in 1788, the son of a United Empire Loyalist who settled on the Raisin River
. The settlement that formed around his father's mills was first known as MacMartin's Mills and later Martintown.
McMartin served with the Glengarry militia during the War of 1812
and the Lower Canada Rebellion
in 1838. He was elected to the 6th Parliament of Upper Canada
in 1812 representing Glengarry
and represented the county until 1824. During the 1820s, McMartin took over the mill operations. In 1827, with a partner, he took on a contract to clear land for a section of the Rideau Canal
. As the project proceeded, he found that their costs were going to be much greater than the value of the bid. Despite verbal assurances from Colonel John By
, he was not compensated for his losses on the project. In 1828, he was elected again as Glengarry's representative and served until 1834.
He also served as justice of the peace, postmaster for Martintown and sheriff for the Eastern District.
He died at Martintown in 1853.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
. He was the first person born in Upper Canada to serve in its Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
.
He was born in Charlottenburgh Township in 1788, the son of a United Empire Loyalist who settled on the Raisin River
Raisin River (Ontario)
The Raisin River is a river in South Stormont and South Glengarry, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties in eastern Ontario, Canada, with the watershed encompassing portions of North Stormont, North Glengarry and the city of Cornwall as well...
. The settlement that formed around his father's mills was first known as MacMartin's Mills and later Martintown.
McMartin served with the Glengarry militia during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and the Lower Canada Rebellion
Lower Canada Rebellion
The Lower Canada Rebellion , commonly referred to as the Patriots' War by Quebeckers, is the name given to the armed conflict between the rebels of Lower Canada and the British colonial power of that province...
in 1838. He was elected to the 6th Parliament of Upper Canada
6th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 6th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 27 July 1812. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in June 1812. All sessions were held at York, Upper Canada....
in 1812 representing Glengarry
Glengarry County, Ontario
thumb|right|Glengarry located within OntarioGlengarry County , an area covering , is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario, and is historically known for its settlement of Scottish Highlanders due to the Highland Clearances.Glengarry was founded in 1792 by Scottish loyalists, mainly from...
and represented the county until 1824. During the 1820s, McMartin took over the mill operations. In 1827, with a partner, he took on a contract to clear land for a section of the Rideau Canal
Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal , also known as the Rideau Waterway, connects the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on the Ottawa River to the city of Kingston, Ontario on Lake Ontario. The canal was opened in 1832 as a precaution in case of war with the United States and is still in use today, with most of its...
. As the project proceeded, he found that their costs were going to be much greater than the value of the bid. Despite verbal assurances from Colonel John By
John By
Lieutenant-Colonel John By was a British military engineer, best remembered for supervising the construction of the Rideau Canal and, in the process, founding what would become the city of Ottawa....
, he was not compensated for his losses on the project. In 1828, he was elected again as Glengarry's representative and served until 1834.
He also served as justice of the peace, postmaster for Martintown and sheriff for the Eastern District.
He died at Martintown in 1853.