Donald Bethune
Encyclopedia
Donald Bethune was a lawyer, judge, entrepreneur and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Williamstown in Upper Canada in 1802, the son of Reverend John Bethune
. Donald was part of a prominent family which included four bothers of note. Alexander Neil
, became bishop of the diocese of Toronto, James Gray Bethune
was a businessman, Angus Bethune
was prominent in the fur trade and John Bethune
was an Anglican clergyman and acting principal of McGill University.
He studied with his brother, John
, in Augusta Township
and with John Strachan
in Cornwall
. He articled in law with Jonas Jones
and was called to the bar in 1823. He served as judge in the Bathurst and Prince Edward District courts. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
for the town of Kingston
in 1828; he was defeated in 1830.
In 1833, he became involved in shipping goods on Lake Ontario
, buying a steamboat
. In 1840, he was awarded the contract for delivering mail and expanded his fleet of steamboats. He was originally based in Cobourg
, but moved to Toronto
in 1843. After fierce competition with Hugh Richardson
to control the shipping business in the region, Bethune's business failed in 1848 and again in 1851, after the banks allowed him to lease back his boats. Bethune left for England
in 1853; after his return in 1858, he returned to the practice of law at Port Hope
.
He died in Toronto in 1869.
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 born in Williamstown in Upper Canada in 1802, the son of Reverend John Bethune
John Bethune (reverend)
The Reverend John Bethune, , founded the first Presbyterian Church in Montreal.Born into a well-respected family on the Isle of Skye, he was a son of Angus Bethune and Christian Campbell. Though descended from the Lairds of Balfour, he needed scholarships to keep him at King's College .He...
. Donald was part of a prominent family which included four bothers of note. Alexander Neil
Alexander Neil Bethune
Alexander Neil Bethune was a Church of England clergyman and bishop and the son of the Reverend John Bethune. He and his wife had ten children. They included Robert Henry Bethune, a noted banker with the Dominion Bank. He was a brother to John, also a clergyman, who was acting principal of McGill...
, became bishop of the diocese of Toronto, James Gray Bethune
James Gray Bethune
James Gray Bethune was born in Upper Canada. He was the son of an Anglican priest, the Reverend John Bethune....
was a businessman, Angus Bethune
Angus Bethune (fur trader)
Angus Bethune was the oldest son of the Reverend John Bethune. He had several distinguished brothers, Alexander Neil, who became Anglican bishop of Toronto; John, Anglican clergyman, dean of the diocese of Montreal and principal of McGill University; James Gray prominent Upper Canada businessman;...
was prominent in the fur trade and John Bethune
John Bethune
John Bethune was a Canadian Anglican clergyman and acting principal of McGill University from 1835 to 1846.-Biography:...
was an Anglican clergyman and acting principal of McGill University.
He studied with his brother, John
John Bethune
John Bethune was a Canadian Anglican clergyman and acting principal of McGill University from 1835 to 1846.-Biography:...
, in Augusta Township
Augusta, Ontario
Augusta is a township in eastern Ontario, Canada, on the Saint Lawrence River in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.-Communities:The township comprises the communities of Algonquin, Bisseltown, Blue Church, Charlieville, Domville, Garretton, Glenmore, Herrons Corners, Lords Mills, Maitland,...
and with 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...
in Cornwall
Cornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
. He articled in law with Jonas Jones
Jonas Jones
Jonas Jones was a lawyer, judge, farmer and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Augusta Township, Upper Canada in 1791, the son of Ephraim Jones. He was educated at John Strachan's school in Cornwall and studied law with Levius Peters Sherwood in Elizabethtown...
and was called to the bar in 1823. He served as judge in the Bathurst and Prince Edward District courts. He was elected to 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...
for the town of Kingston
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...
in 1828; he was defeated in 1830.
In 1833, he became involved in shipping goods on Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
, buying a steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
. In 1840, he was awarded the contract for delivering mail and expanded his fleet of steamboats. He was originally based in Cobourg
Cobourg, Ontario
Cobourg is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Southern Ontario 95 km east of Toronto. It is the largest town in Northumberland County. Its nearest neighbour is Port Hope, to the west. It is located along Highway 401 and the former Highway 2...
, but moved to 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 1843. After fierce competition with Hugh Richardson
Hugh Richardson (shipowner)
Hugh Richardson, was a Canadian shipowner, captain, and office-holder.-Biography:He was born in London, England and went to sea at in 1798, serving with distinction until he was taken captive by the French in 1810. Imprisoned at Verdun, Arras, and Paris, he was not released until eight years later...
to control the shipping business in the region, Bethune's business failed in 1848 and again in 1851, after the banks allowed him to lease back his boats. Bethune left for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1853; after his return in 1858, he returned to the practice of law at Port Hope
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
.
He died in Toronto in 1869.
External links
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- Steamboat Promotion and Changing Technology: the Careers of James Sutherland and the Magnet, Walter Lewis
- "Until Further Notice": The Royal Mail Line and the Passenger Steamboat Trade on Lake Ontario and the Upper St. Lawrence River, 1838-1875, Walter Lewis