Richard Beasley
Encyclopedia
Richard Beasley was a soldier, political figure, farmer and businessman in Upper Canada
.
He was born in New York
in 1761 and moved to Quebec
in 1777. In 1783, he formed a partnership with Peter Smith
in the fur trade
. In 1788, he settled in Barton Township on Lake Ontario
near the current city of Hamilton
, still involved in trading furs. He built a sawmill
and grist mill there. However, in 1800, after speculating in land along the Grand River
, he was forced to sell part of his property to cover debts. At one time he owned 13350 acres (54 km²) of land in what is now Kitchener, Ontario
. Much of it was later sold to German
settlers.
In 1796, he was elected to the 2nd Parliament of Upper Canada
, representing Durham
, York
& 1st Lincoln
. He was also appointed magistrate in the same year. In the next Parliament, he represented West York, Lincoln & Haldimand
and served as speaker from 1803 to 1804. In 1802, he became a lieutenant colonel in the York militia. In 1808, he was elected to represent West York in the 5th Parliament
, but he was unseated because it was found that his agent had closed the polls too early.
Beasley occupied Burlington Heights (now the site of Dundurn and Harvey Parks) in 1790. Financial difficulties forced Beasley to sell lands at Burlington Heights, but it was purchased by Sir Allan Napier MacNab
who built Dundurn Castle
on the foundations of Beasley's brick home. A recent book by David Richard Beasley gives an account of Richard Beasley's life: From Bloody Beginnings: Richard Beasley's Upper Canada [Simcoe: Davus, 2008]
In 1813, retreating British
forces set up camp on his land, causing considerable damage. After the war, he took part in a convention organized by radical reformer Robert Fleming Gourlay
. As a result, he lost his post as magistrate. In addition, allegations regarding his participation in the War of 1812
were raised.
In 1824, he was elected to represent Halton
and became a magistrate again in 1827.
He died in Hamilton in 1842. His gravesiteis at the back of Christ Church Cathedral in Hamilton, Ontario. A recent book, From Bloody Beginnings: Richard Beasley's Upper Canada, issued by Davus Publishing and authored by David Beasley is creative non-fiction ostensibly told in his voice.
(north), Main Street East
(south), John Street North
(west) and Wellington Street North
(east). Landmarks in this neighbourhood include Landmark Place
, Ramada Plaza hotel, Connaught Block/Royal Connaught hotel, the International Village, Theatre Aquarius and Beasley Park
, which was also named after him.
Richard Beasley Public School, also named after him, is a primary school on the east Mountain.
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 in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1761 and moved to 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....
in 1777. In 1783, he formed a partnership with Peter Smith
Peter Smith
- Arts and entertainment :*Peter Smith *Peter Smith , contemporary British painter*Peter C. Smith , author of aeronautical, naval and military history books*Peter James Smith , American actor...
in the fur trade
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...
. In 1788, he settled in Barton Township on Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
near the current city of Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, still involved in trading furs. He built a sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
and grist mill there. However, in 1800, after speculating in land along the Grand River
Grand River (Ontario)
The Grand River is a large river in southwestern Ontario, Canada. From its source, it flows south through Grand Valley, Fergus, Elora, Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Paris, Brantford, Caledonia, and Cayuga before emptying into the north shore of Lake Erie south of Dunnville at Port Maitland...
, he was forced to sell part of his property to cover debts. At one time he owned 13350 acres (54 km²) of land in what is now Kitchener, Ontario
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
. Much of it was later sold to German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
settlers.
In 1796, he was elected to the 2nd Parliament of Upper Canada
2nd Parliament of Upper Canada
The 2nd Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 1 June 1797. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in August 1796. The first session was held at Navy Hall in Newark. The Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada John Graves Simcoe believed York was a superior location for the capital as it would less...
, representing Durham
Durham County, Ontario
Durham County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was named from the English County and city.Durham County was created in 1792. It was composed of the townships of Cartwright, Manvers, Cavan, Darlington, Clarke and Hope, and portions of what is now Peterborough County,...
, 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...
& 1st Lincoln
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....
. He was also appointed magistrate in the same year. In the next Parliament, he represented West York, Lincoln & Haldimand
Haldimand County, Ontario
Haldimand is a rural city-status single-tier municipality on the Niagara Peninsula in Southern Ontario, Canada, on the north shore of Lake Erie, and on the Grand River. Municipal offices are located in Cayuga....
and served as speaker from 1803 to 1804. In 1802, he became a lieutenant colonel in the York militia. In 1808, he was elected to represent West York in the 5th Parliament
5th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 5th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 2 February 1809. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in May 1808. All sessions were held at York, Upper Canada and sat at the Parliament Buildings of Upper Canada...
, but he was unseated because it was found that his agent had closed the polls too early.
Beasley occupied Burlington Heights (now the site of Dundurn and Harvey Parks) in 1790. Financial difficulties forced Beasley to sell lands at Burlington Heights, but it was purchased by Sir Allan Napier MacNab
Allan MacNab
Sir Allan Napier MacNab, 1st Baronet was a Canadian political leader and Premier of the Province of Canada before Canadian Confederation .-Biography:...
who built Dundurn Castle
Dundurn Castle
Dundurn Castle is a historic neoclassical mansion on York Boulevard in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The house took three years and $175,000.00 to build, and was completed in 1835....
on the foundations of Beasley's brick home. A recent book by David Richard Beasley gives an account of Richard Beasley's life: From Bloody Beginnings: Richard Beasley's Upper Canada [Simcoe: Davus, 2008]
In 1813, retreating British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
forces set up camp on his land, causing considerable damage. After the war, he took part in a convention organized by radical reformer Robert Fleming Gourlay
Robert Fleming Gourlay
Robert Gourlay was a Scottish-Canadian writer, political reform activist, and agriculturalist.-Biography:...
. As a result, he lost his post as magistrate. In addition, allegations regarding his participation in 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...
were raised.
In 1824, he was elected to represent Halton
Halton County, Ontario
Halton County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is also one of the oldest counties in Canada.-History:Halton County is named after Major William Mathew Halton who was appointed in 1805 as Secretary to the Upper Canada provincial Lieutenant-Governor Sir Francis...
and became a magistrate again in 1827.
He died in Hamilton in 1842. His gravesiteis at the back of Christ Church Cathedral in Hamilton, Ontario. A recent book, From Bloody Beginnings: Richard Beasley's Upper Canada, issued by Davus Publishing and authored by David Beasley is creative non-fiction ostensibly told in his voice.
Tribute
The Beasley neighbourhood in Hamilton is named after him. It is bounded by Barton Street EastBarton Street (Hamilton, Ontario)
Barton Street is an arterial road in the Lower City of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It's also the longest street in the city. It starts off at the Western end of town at Locke Street North and is a two-way street that stretches eastward through a number of different and varied communities in the...
(north), Main Street East
Main Street (Hamilton, Ontario)
Main Street, is a Lower City arterial road in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It starts east of Wilson Street in Ancaster at White Chapel Cemetery as a two-way street and switches over to a one-way street at Paradise Road South, in Westdale, where it continues up to the Delta where it once again...
(south), John Street North
John Street (Hamilton, Ontario)
John Street, is a Lower City arterial road in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Originally it was known as Mountain Road or Ancaster Road. It starts off at the base of Arkledun Avenue, a Mountain-access road in the city, just east of St.Joseph's Hospital where it's a one-way street going north and tunnels...
(west) and Wellington Street North
Wellington Street (Hamilton, Ontario)
Wellington Street, is a Lower City arterial road in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It starts off at Charlton Avenue East as a two-way street for only one block where it's then blocked off by the Corktown Park and a couple of Canadian National Railway lines that cut through it...
(east). Landmarks in this neighbourhood include Landmark Place
Landmark Place
Landmark Place is the tallest building in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at the corner of Main Street East and Catharine Street South in the Corktown/Stinson neighbourhood. This 43-storey building was completed in 1974, and was originally known as the Century 21 building. It was built by Al...
, Ramada Plaza hotel, Connaught Block/Royal Connaught hotel, the International Village, Theatre Aquarius and Beasley Park
Beasley Park (Hamilton, Ontario)
Beasley Park is a park in the Lower City of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and named after Richard Beasley, , a soldier, political figure, farmer and businessman in Upper Canada. Richard Beasley was one of Hamilton's first settlers who came to Canada from New York in 1777...
, which was also named after him.
Richard Beasley Public School, also named after him, is a primary school on the east Mountain.