Francis Badgley (merchant)
Encyclopedia
Francis Badgley was a Canadian
merchant
, politician
, and newspaper editor
.
He was born in London
, England
and immigrated to Canada in about 1785. He lived in Montreal
and, in 1788, entered a partnership with Richard Dobie
who was active in the fur trade
. This partnership lasted until 1792 when, from his diary accounts, we know that Badgley travelled to Grand Portage, Minnesota
with the fur brigade and conducted a survey for the North West Company
.
Badgley returned to Montreal in 1792. Three years later, on November 27, 1795, he married Elizabeth Lilly, daughter of John Lilly, a prominent Montreal merchant. From 1796 until 1799 he was in partnership with Louis Dunière
and James Badgley in the firm Dunière, Badgley and Company. In 1799 he set up his own business in Montreal, Francis Badgley and Company.
Badgley was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
for Montreal East in 1800. This was a two-member riding and both he and Pierre-Louis Panet
secured 178 votes. He was a supporter of the English party during his four years and did not run for re-election in 1804.
During the War of 1812
Badgley served as a captain in Montreal's 1st Militia Battalion. In 1822 he became accountant for Molson's Brewery
. For a few years, sometime between 1816 and 1822 he was editor of the Montreal Gazette. In 1821 he was appointed justice of the peace
and was promoted major
in the militia.
His eldest daughter, Elizabeth, married William Molson
in 1819. Of his five other children, two sons became prominent in Montreal, William
as a judge and politician and Francis
as a medical doctor.
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...
merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and newspaper editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
.
He was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 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...
and immigrated to Canada in about 1785. He lived in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and, in 1788, entered a partnership with Richard Dobie
Richard Dobie
Richard Dobie was a merchant from Scotland who came to Canada about 1760 and by 1764 was actively involved in the fur trade around Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes...
who was active in the fur trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
. This partnership lasted until 1792 when, from his diary accounts, we know that Badgley travelled to Grand Portage, Minnesota
Grand Portage, Minnesota
Grand Portage is an unorganized territory in Cook County, Minnesota, on Lake Superior, at the northeast corner of the state near the border with northwestern Ontario. The population was 557 at the 2000 census...
with the fur brigade and conducted a survey for the North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
.
Badgley returned to Montreal in 1792. Three years later, on November 27, 1795, he married Elizabeth Lilly, daughter of John Lilly, a prominent Montreal merchant. From 1796 until 1799 he was in partnership with Louis Dunière
Louis Dunière
Louis Dunière was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born at Quebec City in 1723, the son of a merchant born in France. He purchased land, managed the seigneury of Bellechasse and was also involved in the grain trade...
and James Badgley in the firm Dunière, Badgley and Company. In 1799 he set up his own business in Montreal, Francis Badgley and Company.
Badgley was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada was the lower house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The legislative assembly was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791...
for Montreal East in 1800. This was a two-member riding and both he and Pierre-Louis Panet
Pierre-Louis Panet
Pierre-Louis Panet was a lawyer, notary, seigneur, judge and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Montreal in 1761, the son of Pierre Panet. Panet qualified to practice as a lawyer in 1779 and as a notary in 1780. He practiced as a notary at Montreal from 1781 to 1783 and at Quebec City...
secured 178 votes. He was a supporter of the English party during his four years and did not run for re-election in 1804.
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...
Badgley served as a captain in Montreal's 1st Militia Battalion. In 1822 he became accountant for Molson's Brewery
Molson
Molson-Coors Canada Inc. is the Canadian division of the world's fifth-largest brewing company, the Molson Coors Brewing Company. It is the second oldest company in Canada after the Hudson's Bay Company. Molson's first brewery was located on the St...
. For a few years, sometime between 1816 and 1822 he was editor of the Montreal Gazette. In 1821 he was appointed 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...
and was promoted major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the militia.
His eldest daughter, Elizabeth, married William Molson
Molson family
The Molson family of Montreal, Quebec, Canada was founded by John Molson who emigrated to Canada in 1782 from his home in Lincolnshire, England....
in 1819. Of his five other children, two sons became prominent in Montreal, William
William Badgley
William Badgley was born in Lower Canada, educated there, and admitted to the Lower Canadian bar in 1823. He became a judge and attorney general for Canada East....
as a judge and politician and Francis
Francis Badgley (doctor)
Francis Badgley, was the son of Francis Badgley , a merchant with business connections to the London, England, fur trade. The senior Badgley had made his start in Canada as a partner of Richard Dobie...
as a medical doctor.