Joseph Frobisher
Encyclopedia
Joseph Frobisher was a fur trade
r and political figure in Lower Canada
.
He was born in Halifax, England in 1740 and came to Quebec
with his brother Benjamin
around 1763; their brother Thomas joined them around 1769. They set up a fur trading company based in Montreal
that traded in the Northwest, later partnering with Simon McTavish
after Benjamin's death in 1787; both firms were part of the North West Company
. He married Charlotte, the daughter of surgeon Jean-Baptiste Jobert, in 1779. Frobisher was named a justice of the peace in 1788. He was elected to the 1st Parliament of Lower Canada
for Montreal East in 1792. Frobisher retired from the company in 1798. He was secretary for the Beaver Club at Montreal. Frobisher was part-owner of the Batiscan Iron Works and, with his partners, purchased the seigneury
of Champlain. He also had extensive land holdings himself. Frobisher built a large residence on his estate, Beaver Hall, outside Montreal and he also owned a large house in town. He served in the local militia, becoming major by 1806.
He died at Montreal in 1810.
His son Benjamin Joseph
also entered the fur trade and served in the legislative assembly.
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
r and political figure in 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...
.
He was born in Halifax, England in 1740 and came to Quebec
Province of Quebec (1763-1791)
The Province of Quebec was a colony in North America created by Great Britain after the Seven Years' War. Great Britain acquired Canada by the Treaty of Paris when King Louis XV of France and his advisors chose to keep the territory of Guadeloupe for its valuable sugar crops instead of New France...
with his brother Benjamin
Benjamin Frobisher
Benjamin Frobisher was born in England, the son of Joseph Frobisher and Rachel Hargrave and immigrated to Canada about 1763...
around 1763; their brother Thomas joined them around 1769. They set up a fur trading company based in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
that traded in the Northwest, later partnering with Simon McTavish
Simon McTavish
Simon McTavish was a Scots-Quebecer entrepreneur and the pre-eminent businessman in Canada during the second half of the 18th century.-Biography:...
after Benjamin's death in 1787; both firms were part of the North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
. He married Charlotte, the daughter of surgeon Jean-Baptiste Jobert, in 1779. Frobisher was named a justice of the peace in 1788. He was elected to the 1st Parliament of Lower Canada
1st Parliament of Lower Canada
The 1st Parliament of Lower Canada was in session from December 17, 1792 to May 31, 1796. Elections in Lower Canada had been held in June 1792. All sessions were held at Quebec City.- External links :***...
for Montreal East in 1792. Frobisher retired from the company in 1798. He was secretary for the Beaver Club at Montreal. Frobisher was part-owner of the Batiscan Iron Works and, with his partners, purchased the seigneury
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
of Champlain. He also had extensive land holdings himself. Frobisher built a large residence on his estate, Beaver Hall, outside Montreal and he also owned a large house in town. He served in the local militia, becoming major by 1806.
He died at Montreal in 1810.
His son Benjamin Joseph
Benjamin Joseph Frobisher
Benjamin Joseph Frobisher was a fur trader and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Montreal, the son of Joseph Frobisher, and studied in England. In 1799, he joined the North West Company and travelled west, becoming clerk in the English River department. He later worked as a clerk for...
also entered the fur trade and served in the legislative assembly.