Honoré Jackson
Encyclopedia
William Henry Jackson (May 13, 1861 – January 10, 1952), also known as Honoré Jackson or Jaxon, was a leader of the North-West Rebellion
in Canada
in 1885.
He was born in Wingham, Ontario
to a Methodist
family and attended the University of Toronto
. In 1881 he moved to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
(then part of the Northwest Territories
), where he soon began to sympathize with the Métis and their struggle against the Canadian government
, though he was not a Métis himself. Jackson became personal secretary to Louis Riel
when Riel returned to Canada in 1884, and the two began to organize a Métis militia and provisional government
. He was baptised Catholic by Father Fourmond on 18 March 1885, the eve of the declaration of said provisional government (see Exovedate
). Riel stood as godfather for the ceremony and gave him the name "Honoré Joseph Jaxon".
During the rebellion, Riel imprisoned Jackson, thinking his secretary had gone insane. Jackson was released but arrested by the Canadian militia
on the last day of the Battle of Batoche
May 12, 1885. He was tried for treason
, but found not guilty by reason of insanity and sent to an insane asylum in Lower Fort Garry
, near Winnipeg, Manitoba. However, on November 2, he escaped the asylum and fled to the United States
.
Once there, he changed his name to Honoré Jaxon and joined the labour union movement in Chicago, Illinois. He also decided to lie about his identity and told others he was a Métis. In 1894 he was part of Coxey's Army
, which marched to Washington, DC to demand an eight-hour workday. In 1897 he converted to the Bahá'í Faith
.
He returned to Canada briefly in 1907 but soon returned to the United States, eventually moving to New York City
. He collected books, newspapers, and pamphlets relating to the Métis people in an attempt to establish in their honour a museum in New York. However, on December 13, 1951, he was evicted from his apartment, and his collection (considered unimportant by the city) was sent to the garbage dump. He died a month later.
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
in Canada
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...
in 1885.
He was born in Wingham, Ontario
Wingham, Ontario
Wingham is a community located in the municipality of North Huron, Ontario, Canada, which is located in Huron County...
to a Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
family and attended the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. In 1881 he moved to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert is the third-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is situated in the centre of the province on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. The city is known as the "Gateway to the North" because it is the last major centre along the route to the resources of northern Saskatchewan...
(then part of the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
), where he soon began to sympathize with the Métis and their struggle against the Canadian government
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
, though he was not a Métis himself. Jackson became personal secretary to Louis Riel
Louis Riel
Louis David Riel was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political and spiritual leader of the Métis people of the Canadian prairies. He led two resistance movements against the Canadian government and its first post-Confederation Prime Minister, Sir John A....
when Riel returned to Canada in 1884, and the two began to organize a Métis militia and provisional government
Provisional Government of Saskatchewan
The Provisional Government of Saskatchewan was the name given by Louis Riel to the independent state he declared during the Northwest Rebellion of 1885 in what is today the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Although Riel initially hoped to rally the Countryborn, Cree and European settlers of the...
. He was baptised Catholic by Father Fourmond on 18 March 1885, the eve of the declaration of said provisional government (see Exovedate
Exovedate
Exovedate is the name coined by Métis leader Louis Riel and given by him to his council of the Provisional Government of Saskatchewan during the North-West Rebellion in Canada. Ten years prior to this date on December 8, 1875 after attending a mass in Washington, D. C., Riel had a religious vision...
). Riel stood as godfather for the ceremony and gave him the name "Honoré Joseph Jaxon".
During the rebellion, Riel imprisoned Jackson, thinking his secretary had gone insane. Jackson was released but arrested by the Canadian militia
Colonial militia in Canada
From the founding of New France until the establishment of a professional Canadian Army, the colonial militia played an extremely important role in the defence of Canada...
on the last day of the Battle of Batoche
Battle of Batoche
The Battle of Batoche was the decisive battle of the North-West Rebellion. Fought from 9 May to 12 May 1885 at the ad hoc Provisional Government of Saskatchewan capital of Batoche, the greater numbers and superior firepower of Middleton's force could not be successfully countered by the Métis ,...
May 12, 1885. He was tried for treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
, but found not guilty by reason of insanity and sent to an insane asylum in Lower Fort Garry
Lower Fort Garry
Lower Fort Garry was built in 1830 by the Hudson's Bay Company on the western bank of the Red River, north of the original Fort Garry, which is now in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Treaty 1 was signed there....
, near Winnipeg, Manitoba. However, on November 2, he escaped the asylum and fled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Once there, he changed his name to Honoré Jaxon and joined the labour union movement in Chicago, Illinois. He also decided to lie about his identity and told others he was a Métis. In 1894 he was part of Coxey's Army
Coxey's Army
Coxey's Army was a protest march by unemployed workers from the United States, led by the populist Jacob Coxey. They marched on Washington D.C. in 1894, the second year of a four-year economic depression that was the worst in United States history to that time. Officially named the Army of the...
, which marched to Washington, DC to demand an eight-hour workday. In 1897 he converted to the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
.
He returned to Canada briefly in 1907 but soon returned to the United States, eventually moving to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He collected books, newspapers, and pamphlets relating to the Métis people in an attempt to establish in their honour a museum in New York. However, on December 13, 1951, he was evicted from his apartment, and his collection (considered unimportant by the city) was sent to the garbage dump. He died a month later.
External links
- William Henry Jackson in the Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan
- William Henry Jackson in Radio-Canada's "De remarquables oubliés"