George Macbeth (politician)
Encyclopedia
George Macbeth was a businessman and political figure in Canada West.
He was born in the Red River Settlement in what is now Manitoba
in 1825, the son of Scottish
immigrants. In 1838, his family settled in western Upper Canada
. Macbeth was employed by Colonel Thomas Talbot
as an assistant and helped to manage his properties. In 1849, after a dispute with his family, Talbot made Macbeth an heir to a large part of the estate. In 1852, he moved to London
.
In 1854, he was elected to the 6th Parliament of the Province of Canada
representing East Elgin
; he was elected in 1858 and 1861, but was unseated for election corruption in 1863. In 1867, he was elected as an alderman on the city council for London. He was a lieutenant colonel in the local militia which he helped establish. He was connected with railway development and several businesses based in the area.
He married Anne Gilbert Sanders, daughter of John Sanders and Anne Gilbert, in 1852 in Dunwich Township
in Elgin County, Ontario
. They had six children, Talbot in 1853, Mary in 1855, George Morrison in 1856, John in 1859, Annie Isobel in 1860 and Constance in 1862. George Morrison's daughter Meta was the first woman in London, Ontario
to receive her driver's license and Talbot was a judge. George died at London in 1870.
He was born in the Red River Settlement in what is now Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
in 1825, the son of Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
immigrants. In 1838, his family settled in western 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...
. Macbeth was employed by Colonel Thomas Talbot
Thomas Talbot (Upper Canada)
Colonel Thomas Talbot was born at Malahide Castle in Ireland near Dublin He was the fourth son of Richard Talbot and his wife Margaret Talbot, 1st Baroness Talbot of Malahide...
as an assistant and helped to manage his properties. In 1849, after a dispute with his family, Talbot made Macbeth an heir to a large part of the estate. In 1852, he moved to London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
.
In 1854, he was elected to the 6th Parliament of the Province of Canada
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...
representing East Elgin
Elgin County, Ontario
Elgin County is a county and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario with a current population of approximately 46,000. The county seat is St. Thomas.It consists of:*Town of Aylmer*Municipality of Bayham*Municipality of Central Elgin...
; he was elected in 1858 and 1861, but was unseated for election corruption in 1863. In 1867, he was elected as an alderman on the city council for London. He was a lieutenant colonel in the local militia which he helped establish. He was connected with railway development and several businesses based in the area.
He married Anne Gilbert Sanders, daughter of John Sanders and Anne Gilbert, in 1852 in Dunwich Township
Dutton/Dunwich, Ontario
Dutton/Dunwich is a municipality located in western Elgin County in Southwestern Ontario, Canada.The municipality was formed in 1998 through an amalgamation of the Village of Dutton and former Township of Dunwich. It includes the Hamlets of Wallacetown, Duttona Beach, and the western parts of both...
in Elgin County, Ontario
Elgin County, Ontario
Elgin County is a county and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario with a current population of approximately 46,000. The county seat is St. Thomas.It consists of:*Town of Aylmer*Municipality of Bayham*Municipality of Central Elgin...
. They had six children, Talbot in 1853, Mary in 1855, George Morrison in 1856, John in 1859, Annie Isobel in 1860 and Constance in 1862. George Morrison's daughter Meta was the first woman in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
to receive her driver's license and Talbot was a judge. George died at London in 1870.