David Roblin
Encyclopedia
David Roblin was a lumber merchant and political figure in Canada West.
He was born in Adolphustown Township
in Upper Canada
in 1812, the son of John Roblin
. He settled in Richmond Township and opened a general store there in 1832. In 1841, he moved to Napanee. He served as reeve for the township from 1841 to 1857 and warden for the united counties of Frontenac
, Lennox
and Addington
from 1849 to 1857. Over time, he expanded his business interests into the trade in timber. He took advantage of his political connections to support legislation in favour of the Grand Trunk Railway
and received a contract to build a railway bridge and an appointment as arbitrator for the railway company. In 1854, he was elected to the 5th Parliament of the Province of Canada
representing Lennox and Addington; he was re-elected to the 6th Parliament
. Although he was a Reformer, he helped prop up the Liberal-Conservative
coalition during his time in office. Roblin was defeated in the next general election by Augustus Hooper
and, having suffered financially from a collapse of the timber market in 1857, retired from politics.
He died at Napanee in 1863.
He was born in Adolphustown Township
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...
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...
in 1812, the son of John Roblin
John Roblin
John Roblin was a farmer and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Smiths Clove Orange County, New York in 1774. He was a United Empire Loyalist and after the American Revolution, he settled in Adolphustown Township. He was elected to the 5th Parliament of Upper Canada for Lennox and...
. He settled in Richmond Township and opened a general store there in 1832. In 1841, he moved to Napanee. He served as reeve for the township from 1841 to 1857 and warden for the united counties of Frontenac
Frontenac County, Ontario
Frontenac County, as defined by Statistics Canada, is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario. The City of Kingston is included in the census division, but is politically separated from the County of Frontenac. It has a land...
, Lennox
Lennox County, Ontario
Lennox County is a historic county in what is now the Canadian province of Ontario.As an upper-tier municipality, the county of Lennox was created on paper in 1792, but has never existed as a discrete municipal entity. From 1792 until 1864, it was part of the United Counties of Frontenac, Lennox...
and Addington
Addington County, Ontario
Addington County is a historic county in what is now the Canadian province of Ontario.It was named after Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth. As an upper-tier municipality, the county of Addington was created on paper in 1792, but has never existed as a discrete municipal entity. From 1792...
from 1849 to 1857. Over time, he expanded his business interests into the trade in timber. He took advantage of his political connections to support legislation in favour of the Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
and received a contract to build a railway bridge and an appointment as arbitrator for the railway company. In 1854, he was elected to the 5th Parliament of the Province of Canada
5th Parliament of the Province of Canada
The 5th Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from 1854 to November 1857. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in July 1854. Sessions were held in Quebec City until 1856 and then in Toronto....
representing Lennox and Addington; he was re-elected to the 6th Parliament
6th Parliament of the Province of Canada
The 6th Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from 1858 to June 1861. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in December 1857. Sessions were held in Toronto in 1858 and then in Quebec City from 1859...
. Although he was a Reformer, he helped prop up the Liberal-Conservative
Liberal-Conservative Party
The Liberal-Conservative Party was the formal name of the Conservative Party of Canada until 1873, although some Conservative candidates continued to run under the label as late as the 1911 election and others ran as simple Conservatives prior to 1873...
coalition during his time in office. Roblin was defeated in the next general election by Augustus Hooper
Augustus Hooper
Augustus Frederick Garland Hooper was a merchant, timber dealer and political figure in Canada West.He was born in Devonshire, England in 1814 and came to Quebec City with his family in 1819. In 1843, he moved to Newburgh and established the firm A & D Hooper with his brother, Douglas...
and, having suffered financially from a collapse of the timber market in 1857, retired from politics.
He died at Napanee in 1863.