James Edward Small
Encyclopedia
James Edward Small was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Upper Canada
and Canada West.
He was born in York (Toronto
) in 1798, the son of John Small
. He attended the Home District School with Robert Baldwin
. During the War of 1812
, he served on the ship St. Lawrence. In 1817, he was the second for John Ridout in a duel with Samuel Peters Jarvis; Ridout was killed. Small articled in law with William Warren Baldwin
and was called to the bar in 1821. In 1834, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
in Toronto. He was elected in an 1839 by-election in the 3rd riding of York
; he was reelected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
in 1841. Small supported Robert Baldwin's call for responsible government; in 1842, he was named solicitor general for Canada West in the Baldwin-Lafontaine
government. He was appointed Queen's Counsel
in 1842. He resigned from his post as solicitor general in 1843. He was reelected in 1844 but was later disqualified and George Monro
was declared elected. In 1849, he was appointed judge in Middlesex County
.
He died in London
in 1869.
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...
and Canada West.
He was born in 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...
) in 1798, the son of John Small
John Small (1746-1841)
John Small was a political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Cirencester, England in 1746. In 1792, he was appointed clerk of the Executive Council of Upper Canada. He was also a justice of the peace and a lieutenant in the militia.In January 1800, he fought a duel with John White, the...
. He attended the Home District School with Robert Baldwin
Robert Baldwin
Robert Baldwin was born at York . He, along with his political partner Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, led the first responsible ministry in Canada, regarded by some as the first truly Canadian government....
. 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...
, he served on the ship St. Lawrence. In 1817, he was the second for John Ridout in a duel with Samuel Peters Jarvis; Ridout was killed. Small articled in law with William Warren Baldwin
William Warren Baldwin
William Warren Baldwin was a doctor, businessman, lawyer, judge, architect and political figure in Upper Canada....
and was called to the bar in 1821. In 1834, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
in Toronto. He was elected in an 1839 by-election in the 3rd riding of York
York County, Ontario
York County is a historic county in Upper Canada, Canada West, and the Canadian province of Ontario.York County was created in 1792 and was part of the jurisdiction of Home District of Upper Canada...
; he was reelected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house of the legislature for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the...
in 1841. Small supported Robert Baldwin's call for responsible government; in 1842, he was named solicitor general for Canada West in the Baldwin-Lafontaine
Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine
Sir Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine , 1st Baronet, KCMG was the first Canadian to become Prime Minister of the United Province of Canada and the first head of a responsible government in Canada. He was born in Boucherville, Lower Canada in 1807...
government. He was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1842. He resigned from his post as solicitor general in 1843. He was reelected in 1844 but was later disqualified and George Monro
George Monro
George Monro was a businessman and political figure in Canada West.He was born in Scotland in 1801 and came to Niagara in Upper Canada with his parents. In 1814, he moved to York and entered the grocery business with his brother; he later struck out on his own, becoming an importer and wholesaler...
was declared elected. In 1849, he was appointed judge in Middlesex County
Middlesex County, Ontario
Middlesex County is a primarily rural county in Southwestern Ontario. Landlocked, the county is bordered by Huron and Perth counties on the north, Oxford County on the east, Elgin County on the south, and Chatham-Kent and Lambton County on the west.The seat is the city of London, although the city...
.
He died in 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 1869.