John Powell (politician)
Encyclopedia
John Powell was a Canadian politician who served as mayor of Toronto and played an important role in the Upper Canada Rebellion
. Powell was a member of the "Family Compact
," the small group of elite families that controlled the politics of Upper Canada
in the first half of the nineteenth century. His father, Captain John Powell, was the son-in-law of General Æneas Shaw
and his grandfather was Chief Justice William Dummer Powell
.
and east of Bathurst. When former mayor William Lyon Mackenzie
attempted to foment a rebellion against the Compact and Governor Sir Francis Bond Head
, Powell became an important member of the forces opposing him.
On the night of December 4 Powell and companion Archibald Macdonald left the central part of town to investigate the reports of rebel activities to the north. Unbeknownst to them the rebels had captured a local armoury and were based at Montgomery's Tavern, preparing to march south. Powell and Macdonald were captured by a rebel patrol, led by Mackenzie himself. However, before they could be brought to the rebel headquarters Powell pulled a hidden pistol
from his coat. He killed one of his captors, Captain Anthony Anderson, and made good his escape. He shot point blank at Mackenzie but the pistol misfired and the rebel leader was unharmed. Powell returned to town and warned the government forces about the rebel preparations. This advanced warning played an important role in the eventual defeat of the rebellion.
Powell was proclaimed a hero for his actions, and was unanimously elected as mayor by the city council at the end of the year. Powell served three years as mayor of the city. His main preoccupation was security, organizing local militias in each ward and expanding the small police force to help suppress future disorder. After his time as mayor he served one more year on city council before retiring from local politics. In 1844 he left Toronto to become registrar of Lincoln County
and he resided there until his death in 1881.
Upper Canada Rebellion
The Upper Canada Rebellion was, along with the Lower Canada Rebellion in Lower Canada, a rebellion against the British colonial government in 1837 and 1838. Collectively they are also known as the Rebellions of 1837.-Issues:...
. Powell was a member of 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...
," the small group of elite families that controlled the politics of 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...
in the first half of the nineteenth century. His father, Captain John Powell, was the son-in-law of General Æneas Shaw
Æneas Shaw
Æneas Shaw UE was a soldier and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born at Tordarroch House, Pitlochry, Scotland around 1740 and came to Staten Island, New York around 1770. He joined the Queen's Rangers at the start of the American Revolution, later becoming a captain. After the British...
and his grandfather was Chief Justice William Dummer Powell
William Dummer Powell
William Dummer Powell was a Loyalist lawyer, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.-Early life and education:...
.
Background
A lawyer by training, in the 1837 elections Powell was elected alderman for St. Andrew's Ward, which then covered the area between King and Queen Streets west of YongeYonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
and east of Bathurst. When former mayor William Lyon Mackenzie
William Lyon Mackenzie
William Lyon Mackenzie was a Scottish born American and Canadian journalist, politician, and rebellion leader. He served as the first mayor of Toronto, Upper Canada and was an important leader during the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion.-Background and early years in Scotland, 1795–1820:Mackenzie was...
attempted to foment a rebellion against the Compact and Governor Sir Francis Bond Head
Francis Bond Head
Sir Francis Bond Head, 1st Baronet KCH PC , known as "Galloping Head", was Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada during the rebellion of 1837.-Biography:...
, Powell became an important member of the forces opposing him.
On the night of December 4 Powell and companion Archibald Macdonald left the central part of town to investigate the reports of rebel activities to the north. Unbeknownst to them the rebels had captured a local armoury and were based at Montgomery's Tavern, preparing to march south. Powell and Macdonald were captured by a rebel patrol, led by Mackenzie himself. However, before they could be brought to the rebel headquarters Powell pulled a hidden pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
from his coat. He killed one of his captors, Captain Anthony Anderson, and made good his escape. He shot point blank at Mackenzie but the pistol misfired and the rebel leader was unharmed. Powell returned to town and warned the government forces about the rebel preparations. This advanced warning played an important role in the eventual defeat of the rebellion.
Powell was proclaimed a hero for his actions, and was unanimously elected as mayor by the city council at the end of the year. Powell served three years as mayor of the city. His main preoccupation was security, organizing local militias in each ward and expanding the small police force to help suppress future disorder. After his time as mayor he served one more year on city council before retiring from local politics. In 1844 he left Toronto to become registrar of Lincoln County
Lincoln County, Ontario
Lincoln County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.The county was formed in 1792. In 1845, the southern portion of Lincoln County was separated to form Welland County....
and he resided there until his death in 1881.