Richard Cartwright (Upper Canada politician)
Encyclopedia
The Hon. Richard Cartwright (February 2, 1759 – July 27, 1815) was a businessman, judge and political figure in Upper Canada
.
in 1759, his father, Richard Cartwright, had come there from England
in 1742. His mother, Joanne Beasley, was from a 'loyal Dutch family', and his father, an innkeeper and small landowner, soon became a pillar of the local community and was able to educate Richard privately.
During the American Revolution
his father tried to remain as neutral as possible in the now rebel occupied Albany, but a letter from Richard was intercepted by the authorities in 1777 which showed his loyalty was not with the American Patriots. He was allowed to leave to Canada
, but following his departure, now tainted by their son's loyalism to the crown, his parents were abused and their property was 'destroyed and plundered' before they were 'conveyed away by guard to Crown Point' in 1778.
At Fort Niagara
, the young Cartwright found employment as secretary to John Butler
and took part in military expeditions with his Loyalist
regiment into New York
. He soon saw the potential profits in supplying the British
army and in 1780 he ended his military career and formed a partnership with Robert Hamilton.
(which was then still called Cataraqui) in 1785, where he opened a general store. He built "Rockwood Cottage" as a family home. His business interests expanded to include importing and exporting goods, manufacturing and shipbuilding. He was an early proponent of free trade with the United States
.
In 1788, he became a judge in the Court of Common Pleas and, in 1789, was named to the land board for the Mecklenburg District. He became a member of the Legislative Council
for the province in 1792. He helped bring John Strachan
to Upper Canada in 1792 to help improve educational facilities in the province. Unlike lieutenant governor John Graves Simcoe
, Cartwright believed that English institutions should be adapted to Upper Canada's needs and he opposed encouraging Americans to immigrate to the province. He served as an officer in the militia during the War of 1812
.
In 1785 Cartwright had married Magdalen Secord, from a well known Loyalist family, sister-in-law of Laura Secord
. Cartwright died in Kingston in 1815. His son, John Solomon
, became a judge and political figure in the Province of Canada
. His grandson, Sir Richard John Cartwright
, became a Kingston lawyer and Canadian political figure, and he was a cousin of Richard Beasley
.
The former township of Cartwright in Durham County
was named in his honour.
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...
.
Early life
Born at Albany, New YorkAlbany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
in 1759, his father, Richard Cartwright, had come there from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1742. His mother, Joanne Beasley, was from a 'loyal Dutch family', and his father, an innkeeper and small landowner, soon became a pillar of the local community and was able to educate Richard privately.
During the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
his father tried to remain as neutral as possible in the now rebel occupied Albany, but a letter from Richard was intercepted by the authorities in 1777 which showed his loyalty was not with the American Patriots. He was allowed to leave to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, but following his departure, now tainted by their son's loyalism to the crown, his parents were abused and their property was 'destroyed and plundered' before they were 'conveyed away by guard to Crown Point' in 1778.
At Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built to protect the interests of New France in North America. It is located near Youngstown, New York, on the eastern bank of the Niagara River at its mouth, on Lake Ontario.-Origin:...
, the young Cartwright found employment as secretary to John Butler
John Butler (pioneer)
John Butler was a Loyalist who led an irregular militia unit known as Butler's Rangers on the northern frontier in the American Revolutionary War. He led Seneca and Cayuga forces in the Saratoga campaign. He later raised and commanded a regiment of rangers.-Background:John was born to Walter...
and took part in military expeditions with his Loyalist
Loyalist
In general, a loyalist is someone who maintains loyalty to an established government, political party, or sovereign, especially during war or revolutionary change. In modern English usage, the most common application is to loyalty to the British Crown....
regiment into 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...
. He soon saw the potential profits in supplying the 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...
army and in 1780 he ended his military career and formed a partnership with Robert Hamilton.
Life at Kingston
He settled at KingstonKingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
(which was then still called Cataraqui) in 1785, where he opened a general store. He built "Rockwood Cottage" as a family home. His business interests expanded to include importing and exporting goods, manufacturing and shipbuilding. He was an early proponent of free trade with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 1788, he became a judge in the Court of Common Pleas and, in 1789, was named to the land board for the Mecklenburg District. He became a member of the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Upper Canada
The Legislative Council of Upper Canada was the upper house governing the province of Upper Canada. Modelled after the British House of Lords, it was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was specified that the council should consist of at least seven members. Members were appointed for...
for the province in 1792. He helped bring John Strachan
John Strachan
John Strachan was an influential figure in Upper Canada and the first Anglican Bishop of Toronto.-Early life:Strachan was the youngest of six children born to a quarry worker in Aberdeen, Scotland. He graduated from King's College, Aberdeen in 1797...
to Upper Canada in 1792 to help improve educational facilities in the province. Unlike lieutenant governor John Graves Simcoe
John Graves Simcoe
John Graves Simcoe was a British army officer and the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1791–1796. Then frontier, this was modern-day southern Ontario and the watersheds of Georgian Bay and Lake Superior...
, Cartwright believed that English institutions should be adapted to Upper Canada's needs and he opposed encouraging Americans to immigrate to the province. He served as an officer in the militia 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...
.
In 1785 Cartwright had married Magdalen Secord, from a well known Loyalist family, sister-in-law of Laura Secord
Laura Secord
Laura Ingersoll Secord was a Canadian heroine of the War of 1812. She is known for warning British forces of an impending American attack that led to the British victory at the Battle of Beaver Dams.-Early life:...
. Cartwright died in Kingston in 1815. His son, John Solomon
John Solomon Cartwright
Lt.-Col. The Hon. John Solomon Cartwright QC was a businessman, lawyer, judge, farmer and political figure....
, became a judge and political figure in the Province of Canada
Province of Canada
The Province of Canada, United Province of Canada, or the United Canadas was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham in the Report on the Affairs of British North America following the Rebellions of...
. His grandson, Sir Richard John Cartwright
Richard John Cartwright
Sir Richard John Cartwright, PC, GCMG, PC was a Canadian businessman and politician. He was born and raised in Kingston, Ontario in a United Empire Loyalist family, the son of Harriet Dobbs Cartwright and the grandson of Richard Cartwright...
, became a Kingston lawyer and Canadian political figure, and he was a cousin of Richard Beasley
Richard Beasley
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...
.
The former township of Cartwright in Durham County
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,...
was named in his honour.