James Gray Bethune
Encyclopedia
James Gray Bethune was born in Upper Canada
. He was the son of an Anglican priest, the Reverend John Bethune.
James Gray was from a large family and four of the brothers had notable careers in Canada. Alexander Neil Bethune
became a bishop of the diocese of Toronto. John Bethune
was the acting principal of McGill University for over ten years. Angus Bethune
was prominent in the fur trade and Donald Bethune
was an important political figure in Upper Canada.
James had a career in business which began in 1812 after finishing school and moving to Cobourg, Upper Canada. By 1817 he was involved in a number of enterprises, namely; a store, sawmill, distillery and community postmaster.
Bethune’s enterprises in the commuity made him well known and often admired personality. He was a justice of the peace and an officer of the courts making him a trusted person as well. His involvements in the community included a number of organizations and he received the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the militia. He became an agent for the Bank of Upper Canada
in 1830 and shortly after was promoted to cashier of the Cobourg branch.
The success in the financial area also led to matching misfortunes. His lending policies often ran counter to bank policies and ended in bankruptcy. He subsequently made an unsuccessful foray into politics and had a brief stay in debtors prison. His reputation was ruined and he moved away to New York state where he died after a protracted illness in Rochester, New York
. Bethune was later buried in Cobourg, Ontario
.
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 the son of an Anglican priest, the Reverend John Bethune.
James Gray was from a large family and four of the brothers had notable careers in Canada. Alexander Neil Bethune
Alexander Neil Bethune
Alexander Neil Bethune was a Church of England clergyman and bishop and the son of the Reverend John Bethune. He and his wife had ten children. They included Robert Henry Bethune, a noted banker with the Dominion Bank. He was a brother to John, also a clergyman, who was acting principal of McGill...
became a bishop of the diocese of Toronto. John Bethune
John Bethune
John Bethune was a Canadian Anglican clergyman and acting principal of McGill University from 1835 to 1846.-Biography:...
was the acting principal of McGill University for over ten years. Angus Bethune
Angus Bethune (fur trader)
Angus Bethune was the oldest son of the Reverend John Bethune. He had several distinguished brothers, Alexander Neil, who became Anglican bishop of Toronto; John, Anglican clergyman, dean of the diocese of Montreal and principal of McGill University; James Gray prominent Upper Canada businessman;...
was prominent in the fur trade and Donald Bethune
Donald Bethune
Donald Bethune was a lawyer, judge, entrepreneur and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Williamstown in Upper Canada in 1802, the son of Reverend John Bethune. Donald was part of a prominent family which included four bothers of note...
was an important political figure in Upper Canada.
James had a career in business which began in 1812 after finishing school and moving to Cobourg, Upper Canada. By 1817 he was involved in a number of enterprises, namely; a store, sawmill, distillery and community postmaster.
Bethune’s enterprises in the commuity made him well known and often admired personality. He was a justice of the peace and an officer of the courts making him a trusted person as well. His involvements in the community included a number of organizations and he received the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the militia. He became an agent for the Bank of Upper Canada
Bank of Upper Canada
The Bank of Upper Canada was a Canadian bank established in 1821 under a Charter granted by the colony of Upper Canada in 1819. The incorporators were William Allan, Robert C. Horne, John Scarlett, Francis Jackson, William W. Baldwin, Alexander Legge, Thomas Ridout, his son Samuel Ridout, D’Arcy...
in 1830 and shortly after was promoted to cashier of the Cobourg branch.
The success in the financial area also led to matching misfortunes. His lending policies often ran counter to bank policies and ended in bankruptcy. He subsequently made an unsuccessful foray into politics and had a brief stay in debtors prison. His reputation was ruined and he moved away to New York state where he died after a protracted illness in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. Bethune was later buried in Cobourg, Ontario
Cobourg, Ontario
Cobourg is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Southern Ontario 95 km east of Toronto. It is the largest town in Northumberland County. Its nearest neighbour is Port Hope, to the west. It is located along Highway 401 and the former Highway 2...
.