James Baby
Encyclopedia
James Baby was a judge and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born Jacques Bâby, the son of Jacques Baby
, to a prosperous family in Detroit in 1763 and educated in Upper Canada
, then part of the province of Quebec
, where his uncle, François Baby
, lived. In 1792, he was appointed to the Executive Council
and Legislative Council of Upper Canada
and became lieutenant for Kent County
. In 1793, he was appointed judge in the Western District.
After the Jay Treaty
in 1795, the Baby family left the Detroit area and moved to Sandwich (now Windsor
). (Today his house
is owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust
and currently houses government offices.) Over the years, the family acquired large amounts of land in the western region of Upper Canada. Baby was put in charge of the 1st Kent militia. During the War of 1812
, Sandwich was seized by the Americans
and Baby was later taken prisoner at the Battle of the Thames
. During the American occupation, his property suffered extensive damage.
In 1815, he was appointed Inspector General and moved to York (Toronto
), where he was part of the ruling clique known as the Family Compact
. In 1823 he represented Upper Canada in resolving a dispute with Lower Canada
over the sharing of customs revenues. A Roman Catholic, he helped establish the first Catholic church at York, St. Paul's
.
He died at York in 1833.
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 Jacques Bâby, the son of Jacques Baby
Jacques Baby
Jacques Baby, dit Dupéron was a Canadian fur trader and an employee of the British Indian Department.He was born in Montreal in 1731. He was a trader and Indian agent at Logstown, near the current location of Ambridge, Pennsylvania. After the fall of New France in 1760, he refused to swear...
, to a prosperous family in Detroit in 1763 and educated in 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...
, then part of the province of 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....
, where his uncle, François Baby
François Baby (businessman)
François Baby was a Canadian businessman, militia officer, and politician.François Baby was born in Montreal to Raymond Baby and Thérèse Le Compte Dupré. He came from a family of fur traders. His father was a fur trader who had been sufficiently successful before his death, four years after...
, lived. In 1792, he was appointed to the Executive Council
Executive Council of Upper Canada
The Executive Council of Upper Canada had a similar function to the Cabinet in England but was not responsible to the Legislative Assembly. Members of the Executive Council were not necessarily members of the Legislative Assembly but were usually members of the Legislative Council. Members were...
and Legislative Council of Upper Canada
Legislative Council of Upper Canada
The Legislative Council of Upper Canada was the upper house governing the province of Upper Canada. Modelled after the British House of Lords, it was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was specified that the council should consist of at least seven members. Members were appointed for...
and became lieutenant for Kent County
Kent County, Ontario
Kent County, area 2,458 sq km is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. Population in 2006 was 108,589.The county was created in 1792 and named by John Graves Simcoe in honour of the English County. The county is in an alluvial plain between Lake St...
. In 1793, he was appointed judge in the Western District.
After the Jay Treaty
Jay Treaty
Jay's Treaty, , also known as Jay's Treaty, The British Treaty, and the Treaty of London of 1794, was a treaty between the United States and Great Britain that is credited with averting war,, resolving issues remaining since the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which ended the American Revolution,, and...
in 1795, the Baby family left the Detroit area and moved to Sandwich (now Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
). (Today his house
Duff Baby House
The Duff Baby House is an historic house located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.-History:Built between 1792 and 1798, the Duff Baby House is considered to be the oldest building in Windsor. The house was built by Alexander Duff as a fur trade post. In 1807 the building was bought by James Baby and...
is owned by the Ontario Heritage Trust
Ontario Heritage Trust
The Ontario Heritage Trust is a non-profit agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture, responsible for protecting, preserving and promoting the built, natural and cultural heritage of Canada's most populous province. It was initially known as the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board...
and currently houses government offices.) Over the years, the family acquired large amounts of land in the western region of Upper Canada. Baby was put in charge of the 1st Kent militia. 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...
, Sandwich was seized by the Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Baby was later taken prisoner at the Battle of the Thames
Battle of the Thames
The Battle of the Thames, also known as the Battle of Moraviantown, was a decisive American victory in the War of 1812. It took place on October 5, 1813, near present-day Chatham, Ontario in Upper Canada...
. During the American occupation, his property suffered extensive damage.
In 1815, he was appointed Inspector General and moved to York (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...
), where he was part of the ruling clique known as the Family Compact
Family Compact
Fully developed after the War of 1812, the Compact lasted until Upper and Lower Canada were united in 1841. In Lower Canada, its equivalent was the Château Clique. The influence of the Family Compact on the government administration at different levels lasted to the 1880s...
. In 1823 he represented Upper Canada in resolving a dispute with 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...
over the sharing of customs revenues. A Roman Catholic, he helped establish the first Catholic church at York, St. Paul's
St. Paul's Basilica
St. Paul's Basilica is the oldest Roman Catholic congregation in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the Corktown neighbourhood just east of downtown near the intersection of Queen and Parliament streets at 83 Power Street....
.
He died at York in 1833.