Christopher Alexander Hagerman
Encyclopedia
Lt.-Col The Hon. Christopher Alexander Hagerman (28 March 1792 – 14 May 1847) was a Canadian
militia officer, politician
, and judge.
Known as 'Handsome Kit', he was born at the Bay of Quinte
, Adolphustown
, the son of United Empire Loyalist Major Nicholas Hagerman (1761-1819) J.P., and his wife Anne (1758-1847), sister of Judge Alexander Fisher M.P., of Adolphustown. Hagerman's maternal first cousin's, Helen and Henrietta Fisher, married the brothers Thomas Kirkpatrick
and Judge Stafford Kirkpatrick respectively. His grandfather, Christopher Hagerman (b.1722), a Prussian officer, had fought for George III at the Battle of Culloden
and settled in Canada
after taking part in the Battle of Quebec (1759).
In 1807, Hagerman began his career in the law offices at Kingston, Ontario
of his father, one of the first appointed barristers in Upper Canada
. He served in his father's militia regiment during the War of 1812
, becoming the aide-de-camp
to Lieutenant-General Gordon Drummond
, who regarded him highly, later gaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Having grown up outside John Strachan
's inner circle, his military service and association with Drummond gave him the entree he needed for political success.
After the war he was appointed the lucrative position of Collector of Customs at Kingston, also representing the riding of Kingston in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
. Called to the Bar of Upper Canada in 1815, in 1829 he was appointed solicitor general for the province and in 1837 he became attorney general. He was a leading member and advocate of the Family Compact
, a staunch conservative and well known for his loyalty to the Church of England
. He was appointed judge for the Court of Queen's Bench in 1840.
Hagerman was an excellent and skilled orator and conversationalist. He was a powerfully built man, both bumptious and aggressive, and on one occasion horse whipped Robert Fleming Gourlay
. As popular as he was within the Family Compact
(he was a particular favourite of John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton
), he was thoroughly hated by those outside the circle.
He was married three times. In 1817 he married Elizabeth, daughter of James Macaulay
. In England in 1834, he married Elizabeth Emily, daughter of the British Deputy Secretary at War, William Merry (1762-1855) of Lansdowne Terrace, Cheltenham
, by his wife Anne, daughter of Kender Mason of Beel House, Buckinghamshire
, the sister of Henry Mason, who married a niece of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
. Two years later, again in England, he married Caroline, daughter of William George Daniel-Tyssen (1773-1838) of Foley House etc., High Sheriff of Kent
, by his wife Amelia, only daughter and heiress of Captain John Amhurst R.N., of East Farleigh Court, Kent. Hagerman died at Toronto
in 1847, the father of four children by his first marriage and a daughter by his second.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
militia officer, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and judge.
Known as 'Handsome Kit', he was born at the Bay of Quinte
Bay of Quinte
The Bay of Quinte is a long, narrow bay shaped like the letter "Z" on the northern shore of Lake Ontario in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is just west of the head of the Saint Lawrence River that drains the Great Lakes into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
, Adolphustown
Adolphustown, Ontario
Adolphustown is a geographic area located in Greater Napanee, Ontario, Canada, at on the Adolphus Reach of the Bay of Quinte in Lake Ontario. It was founded in 1784 by United Empire Loyalists. The original Loyalist Landing site is now the U.E.L...
, the son of United Empire Loyalist Major Nicholas Hagerman (1761-1819) J.P., and his wife Anne (1758-1847), sister of Judge Alexander Fisher M.P., of Adolphustown. Hagerman's maternal first cousin's, Helen and Henrietta Fisher, married the brothers Thomas Kirkpatrick
Thomas Kirkpatrick
Thomas Kirkpatrick was a Canadian lawyer and political figure. He represented Frontenac in the 1st Canadian Parliament as a Conservative....
and Judge Stafford Kirkpatrick respectively. His grandfather, Christopher Hagerman (b.1722), a Prussian officer, had fought for George III at the Battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
and settled in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
after taking part in the Battle of Quebec (1759).
In 1807, Hagerman began his career in the law offices at Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
of his father, one of the first appointed barristers in 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...
. He served in his father's militia regiment 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...
, becoming the aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Lieutenant-General Gordon Drummond
Gordon Drummond
Sir Gordon Drummond, GCB was the first Canadian-born officer to command the military and the civil government of Canada...
, who regarded him highly, later gaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Having grown up outside John Strachan
John Strachan
John Strachan was an influential figure in Upper Canada and the first Anglican Bishop of Toronto.-Early life:Strachan was the youngest of six children born to a quarry worker in Aberdeen, Scotland. He graduated from King's College, Aberdeen in 1797...
's inner circle, his military service and association with Drummond gave him the entree he needed for political success.
After the war he was appointed the lucrative position of Collector of Customs at Kingston, also representing the riding of Kingston in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
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...
. Called to the Bar of Upper Canada in 1815, in 1829 he was appointed solicitor general for the province and in 1837 he became attorney general. He was a leading member and advocate of the Family Compact
Family Compact
Fully developed after the War of 1812, the Compact lasted until Upper and Lower Canada were united in 1841. In Lower Canada, its equivalent was the Château Clique. The influence of the Family Compact on the government administration at different levels lasted to the 1880s...
, a staunch conservative and well known for his loyalty to the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. He was appointed judge for the Court of Queen's Bench in 1840.
Hagerman was an excellent and skilled orator and conversationalist. He was a powerfully built man, both bumptious and aggressive, and on one occasion horse whipped Robert Fleming Gourlay
Robert Fleming Gourlay
Robert Gourlay was a Scottish-Canadian writer, political reform activist, and agriculturalist.-Biography:...
. As popular as he was within the Family Compact
Family Compact
Fully developed after the War of 1812, the Compact lasted until Upper and Lower Canada were united in 1841. In Lower Canada, its equivalent was the Château Clique. The influence of the Family Compact on the government administration at different levels lasted to the 1880s...
(he was a particular favourite of John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton
John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton
Field Marshal John Colborne, 1st Baron Seaton, GCB, GCMG, GCH, PC was a British field marshal and colonial governor.-Early service:...
), he was thoroughly hated by those outside the circle.
He was married three times. In 1817 he married Elizabeth, daughter of James Macaulay
James Macaulay
James Macaulay was the Chief Medical Officer of Upper Canada.-Military career:In 1759, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of a clergyman. He gained a commission into the army as a surgeon and served with the Queen's Rangers during the American Revolution. In 1785, he joined the 33rd Regiment...
. In England in 1834, he married Elizabeth Emily, daughter of the British Deputy Secretary at War, William Merry (1762-1855) of Lansdowne Terrace, Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, by his wife Anne, daughter of Kender Mason of Beel House, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, the sister of Henry Mason, who married a niece of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
. Two years later, again in England, he married Caroline, daughter of William George Daniel-Tyssen (1773-1838) of Foley House etc., High Sheriff of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, by his wife Amelia, only daughter and heiress of Captain John Amhurst R.N., of East Farleigh Court, Kent. Hagerman died at Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1847, the father of four children by his first marriage and a daughter by his second.