Henry Caldwell
Encyclopedia
Lt.-Col. Henry Caldwell, (c.
1735 – 1810) was a Canadian army and militia officer, a successful businessman and a member of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada
.
The youngest son of Sir John Caldwell (d. 1744) 3rd Bt., of Castle Caldwell & Wellsburrow, High Sheriff of Co. Fermanagh, by his wife Anne (d. 1769), daughter of The Very Rev. John Trench (d. 1725) of Moate, Co. Galway, Dean of Raphoe. Henry Caldwell fought with distinction at the capture of Louisbourg, Cape Breton
, afterward promoted to captain by James Wolfe
(who included him in his will) and assistant quartermaster to General Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
during the Siege of Quebec.
Caldwell retired from the British army with the rank of major in 1774, remaining in Quebec
. He leased land that had belonged to Governor George Murray (British Army officer) and built Caldwell Manor. The following year he served as a Lieutenant-Colonel with the militia during the defence of Sainte-Foy
and was chosen to carry the dispatches reporting the victory to London. His military service earned him the King's praise, financial reward and a seat in the Canadian parliament. In 1787 he was promoted to colonel of the Quebec Battalion of British Militia, a rank he held until June 1794. Described as 'a handsome soldier', Caldwell was supposed to be the inspiration for the character Colonel Ed Rivers in the novel The History of Emily Montague, by Frances Brooke.
Caldwell was a founder of the Agriculture Society (1791), serving as its chairman, to improve the breeding of livestock and the production of hemp in Quebec. In 1801 he purchased all the property that had belonged to Governor Murray, establishing himself as an important landowner, and he bought further considerable tracts of land throughout Quebec. From the mills he built he supplied the troops stationed in North America and bought boats, wharves and warehouses to produce, store and export his goods. In 1810 alone he sold more than 1,775,000 pounds of flour to the government for just under £22,000.
In 1804, as a result of the Napoleon's European blockade, Caldwell persuaded Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
, the Lord of the Admiralty
, to instead develop Canadian timber for the Royal Navy
. His sawmills became the best known in Quebec and the Etchemin mills at the mouth of the Rivière Etchemin were among the largest.
As a politician he was 'a man of rather tempestuous nature and strong personality (and) he naturally found himself in conflict with the governors of the time.' In 1784 he was appointed deputy receiver general
. Under Governor Carleton he focused on improving the militia
, highways, communications and later education. Ten years later, in 1794, he was sworn in as Receiver-General of Lower Canada
with an annual salary of £400. He retained this position until 1808 when his son, John Caldwell (seigneur)
, took over. Long after his death, in 1823, it was discovered that he had embezzled nearly £40,000 during the exercise of his duties, including almost £8,000 from the Jesuit estates, which he had managed as treasurer of the commission set up to administer them.
Henry Caldwell died May 28, 1810 at his home, Belmont, near Quebec. His wife, Ann, died six years earlier. She was daughter of Alexander Hamilton of Knock, Co. Dublin & Newtonhamilton, Co. Armagh
, M.P. for Belfast, and the great aunt of Edward Bowen (politician)
. He left all his personal goods and property to his only son except for the seigneury of Lauson, which he bequeathed to his grandson Henry John, and what was left of Sans Bruit, which went to his granddaughter Ann; he also left various gifts to relatives and friends.
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1735 – 1810) was a Canadian army and militia officer, a successful businessman and a member of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada
Legislative Council of Lower Canada
The Legislative Council of Lower Canada was the upper house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The upper house consisted of appointed councillors who voted on bills passed up by the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada. The legislative council was...
.
The youngest son of Sir John Caldwell (d. 1744) 3rd Bt., of Castle Caldwell & Wellsburrow, High Sheriff of Co. Fermanagh, by his wife Anne (d. 1769), daughter of The Very Rev. John Trench (d. 1725) of Moate, Co. Galway, Dean of Raphoe. Henry Caldwell fought with distinction at the capture of Louisbourg, Cape Breton
Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Cape Breton Regional Municipality often shortened to simply CBRM, is a regional municipality in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton County.According to the 2006 Census of Canada, the population within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality is 102,250...
, afterward promoted to captain by James Wolfe
James Wolfe
Major General James P. Wolfe was a British Army officer, known for his training reforms but remembered chiefly for his victory over the French in Canada...
(who included him in his will) and assistant quartermaster to General Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB , known between 1776 and 1786 as Sir Guy Carleton, was an Irish-British soldier and administrator...
during the Siege of Quebec.
Caldwell retired from the British army with the rank of major in 1774, remaining in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. He leased land that had belonged to Governor George Murray (British Army officer) and built Caldwell Manor. The following year he served as a Lieutenant-Colonel with the militia during the defence of Sainte-Foy
Sainte-Foy
Sainte Foy or Sainte Foi is a French expression meaning either Saint Faith, as a person, or "holy faith" .See also Santa Fe.Sainte-Foy is the name or part of the name of several places:-In France:...
and was chosen to carry the dispatches reporting the victory to London. His military service earned him the King's praise, financial reward and a seat in the Canadian parliament. In 1787 he was promoted to colonel of the Quebec Battalion of British Militia, a rank he held until June 1794. Described as 'a handsome soldier', Caldwell was supposed to be the inspiration for the character Colonel Ed Rivers in the novel The History of Emily Montague, by Frances Brooke.
Caldwell was a founder of the Agriculture Society (1791), serving as its chairman, to improve the breeding of livestock and the production of hemp in Quebec. In 1801 he purchased all the property that had belonged to Governor Murray, establishing himself as an important landowner, and he bought further considerable tracts of land throughout Quebec. From the mills he built he supplied the troops stationed in North America and bought boats, wharves and warehouses to produce, store and export his goods. In 1810 alone he sold more than 1,775,000 pounds of flour to the government for just under £22,000.
In 1804, as a result of the Napoleon's European blockade, Caldwell persuaded Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville PC and Baron Dunira was a Scottish lawyer and politician. He was the first Secretary of State for War and the last person to be impeached in the United Kingdom....
, the Lord of the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
, to instead develop Canadian timber for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. His sawmills became the best known in Quebec and the Etchemin mills at the mouth of the Rivière Etchemin were among the largest.
As a politician he was 'a man of rather tempestuous nature and strong personality (and) he naturally found himself in conflict with the governors of the time.' In 1784 he was appointed deputy receiver general
Receiver General
A Receiver General is an officer responsible for accepting payments on behalf of a government, and for making payments to a government on behalf of other parties. Receiver General is an alternative title for a Treasurer.-See also:...
. Under Governor Carleton he focused on improving the militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, highways, communications and later education. Ten years later, in 1794, he was sworn in as Receiver-General of Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
with an annual salary of £400. He retained this position until 1808 when his son, John Caldwell (seigneur)
John Caldwell (seigneur)
Sir John Caldwell was a businessman and politician in Lower Canada and the only son of Henry Caldwell, the receiver general of Lower Canada from 1794....
, took over. Long after his death, in 1823, it was discovered that he had embezzled nearly £40,000 during the exercise of his duties, including almost £8,000 from the Jesuit estates, which he had managed as treasurer of the commission set up to administer them.
Henry Caldwell died May 28, 1810 at his home, Belmont, near Quebec. His wife, Ann, died six years earlier. She was daughter of Alexander Hamilton of Knock, Co. Dublin & Newtonhamilton, Co. Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
, M.P. for Belfast, and the great aunt of Edward Bowen (politician)
Edward Bowen (politician)
Edward Bowen was an Irish-born lawyer, judge and political figure in Lower Canada. He was the 1st Chief Justice of the Superior Court for the Province of Quebec, and the 2nd Chancellor of Bishop's University.-Life:...
. He left all his personal goods and property to his only son except for the seigneury of Lauson, which he bequeathed to his grandson Henry John, and what was left of Sans Bruit, which went to his granddaughter Ann; he also left various gifts to relatives and friends.