Charles Magill
Encyclopedia
Charles Magill was a member of the 1st Canadian Parliament
and mayor
of Hamilton
in 1854-55, 1865–66 and 1882-3.
He was born in Westport, County Mayo
, Ireland
, the son of Robert Magill and Catherine Bonner, in 1816 and came to Upper Canada
with his family in 1832. After moving to Hamilton in 1833, he worked for a time in a store owned by Isaac Buchanan
, who represented the city in the Legislative Assembly
. He established himself as a merchant in 1840. In 1848, Magill married Ann Eliza Wright. He was elected to the city council in 1852 and later served several terms as mayor. Magill also served as chairman of the Board of Health, a justice of the peace
for Wentworth County
and chairman of the Board of Water Commissioners. He was elected to the last parliament of the Province of Canada
in a by-election in 1866 and was re-elected in 1867 as a Liberal
member for the riding of Hamilton. Magill was defeated when he ran for reelection to the House of Commons in 1872. He served as lieutenant-colonel in the militia. Magill was also a prominent member of the local Masonic lodge.
He died in Hamilton in 1898.
1st Canadian Parliament
The 1st Canadian Parliament was in session from November 6, 1867 until July 8, 1872. The membership was set by the 1867 federal election from August 7 to September 20, 1867, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was prorogued prior to the 1872 election.It was...
and mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
in 1854-55, 1865–66 and 1882-3.
He was born in Westport, County Mayo
Westport, County Mayo
Westport is a town in County Mayo, Ireland. It is situated on the west coast at the south-east corner of Clew Bay, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean....
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the son of Robert Magill and Catherine Bonner, in 1816 and came to Upper Canada
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...
with his family in 1832. After moving to Hamilton in 1833, he worked for a time in a store owned by Isaac Buchanan
Isaac Buchanan
Isaac Buchanan was a businessman and political figure in Canada West. He was also an international merchant, first president of the Hamilton Club, founder of Hamilton and Toronto boards of trade - forerunners to modern chambers of commerce - and founder of the regiment that later became the Royal...
, who represented the city in the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house of the legislature for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the...
. He established himself as a merchant in 1840. In 1848, Magill married Ann Eliza Wright. He was elected to the city council in 1852 and later served several terms as mayor. Magill also served as chairman of the Board of Health, a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Wentworth County
Wentworth County, Ontario
Wentworth County, area , is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.It was created in 1816 as part of the Gore District in what was then Upper Canada and later Canada West...
and chairman of the Board of Water Commissioners. He was elected to the last parliament of the Province of Canada
8th Parliament of the Province of Canada
The 8th Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from 1863 to July 1866. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in August 1863. Sessions were held in Quebec City until 1866; the last session was held in Ottawa....
in a by-election in 1866 and was re-elected in 1867 as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
member for the riding of Hamilton. Magill was defeated when he ran for reelection to the House of Commons in 1872. He served as lieutenant-colonel in the militia. Magill was also a prominent member of the local Masonic lodge.
He died in Hamilton in 1898.