Robert Nelson
Encyclopedia
Robert Nelson was an Anglo-Quebecer physician and a leading figure in the Lower Canada Rebellion
in 19th century Quebec
(Lower Canada
).
Nelson was born in Sorel (near Montreal) to William Nelson, an immigrant to Colonial America
from Newsham, North Yorkshire
. His mother, Jane Dies, was a teacher and daughter of an important land owner in the New York
area. He studied medicine in Montreal and later at Harvard University
, in the state of Massachusetts
. During the War of 1812
, he was surgeon for the Deschambault Corps and the Indian Braves Corps.
In 1827, Robert Nelson entered politics at the invitation of his brother, Wolfred Nelson
, also a doctor and member of the Parti Patriote. On November 24, 1837, Nelson was arrested with other politicians. He was freed soon after, not being involved with the rebels, unlike his brother, Wolfred, who participated in the Battle of Saint-Denis
. His arrest, however, led him to join with the rebels who fled to the United States
. The leaders of the Patriotes voted for the quick establishment of a provisional government
and the launch of an attack from the United States. Some important Patriotes voted against this idea, including Louis-Joseph Papineau
. Robert Nelson was made General of the army and elected future President of the Republic of Lower Canada.
On February 28, 1838, Nelson encamped at Alburg, Vermont with some 300 men. He proclaimed the independence of Lower Canada and distributed copies of a declaration of independence
. Soon after, they were arrested by the U.S. Army
for violation of the law of neutrality of the United States. A jury, sympathetic to the Patriotes cause, acquitted him and others.
After this failed attempt, Robert Nelson and other insurrectionists decided to take the time to organize a new strike. A clandestine paramilitary association, known as the Frères chasseurs
, was set up to overthrow the British colonial governments of Lower and Upper Canada and establish sovereign and democratic republics in their place. A second invasion started on November 3, 1838. Things didn't go as planned and the invasion forces were forced to retreat.
Nelson and others were eventually granted amnesty by the British colonial government and allowed to return home.
Robert Nelson died in 1873 at the age of 78 in Staten Island, New York. He was interred in the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery in Montreal.
Lower Canada Rebellion
The Lower Canada Rebellion , commonly referred to as the Patriots' War by Quebeckers, is the name given to the armed conflict between the rebels of Lower Canada and the British colonial power of that province...
in 19th century 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....
(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...
).
Nelson was born in Sorel (near Montreal) to William Nelson, an immigrant to Colonial America
Colonial America
The colonial history of the United States covers the history from the start of European settlement and especially the history of the thirteen colonies of Britain until they declared independence in 1776. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major...
from Newsham, North Yorkshire
Newsham, North Yorkshire
Newsham is a village and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England.A friendly working village with a good community spirit. A large well used village hall , pretty village green, on which the annual carnival takes place in May/June...
. His mother, Jane Dies, was a teacher and daughter of an important land owner in the 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...
area. He studied medicine in Montreal and later at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, in the state of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. 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...
, he was surgeon for the Deschambault Corps and the Indian Braves Corps.
In 1827, Robert Nelson entered politics at the invitation of his brother, Wolfred Nelson
Wolfred Nelson
Wolfred Nelson, was from 1854 to 1856 the mayor of Montreal, Quebec.- Biography :Nelson was born in Montreal the son of William Nelson, an immigrant to Colonial America from Newsham, North Yorkshire, England...
, also a doctor and member of the Parti Patriote. On November 24, 1837, Nelson was arrested with other politicians. He was freed soon after, not being involved with the rebels, unlike his brother, Wolfred, who participated in the Battle of Saint-Denis
Battle of Saint-Denis (1837)
The Battle of St. Denis was fought on November 22, 1837 between British colonial authorities under Lieutenant-Colonel Gore and Lower Canada rebels. The rebels were victoriously led by Wolfred Nelson.- See also :*Lower Canada Rebellion...
. His arrest, however, led him to join with the rebels who fled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The leaders of the Patriotes voted for the quick establishment of a provisional government
Provisional government
A provisional government is an emergency or interim government set up when a political void has been created by the collapse of a very large government. The early provisional governments were created to prepare for the return of royal rule...
and the launch of an attack from the United States. Some important Patriotes voted against this idea, including Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau , born in Montreal, Quebec, was a politician, lawyer, and the landlord of the seigneurie de la Petite-Nation. He was the leader of the reformist Patriote movement before the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837–1838. His father was Joseph Papineau, also a famous politician in Quebec...
. Robert Nelson was made General of the army and elected future President of the Republic of Lower Canada.
On February 28, 1838, Nelson encamped at Alburg, Vermont with some 300 men. He proclaimed the independence of Lower Canada and distributed copies of a declaration of independence
Declaration of Independence of Lower Canada
The Declaration of Independence of Lower Canada was written in French by the patriot rebel Robert Nelson on February 22, 1838, while in exile in the United States, after the first rebellion of 1837....
. Soon after, they were arrested by the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
for violation of the law of neutrality of the United States. A jury, sympathetic to the Patriotes cause, acquitted him and others.
After this failed attempt, Robert Nelson and other insurrectionists decided to take the time to organize a new strike. A clandestine paramilitary association, known as the Frères chasseurs
Frères chasseurs
The Frères chasseurs were a paramilitary organization that fought in the Patriote Rebellion on the Patriote side, seeking to make Lower Canada, now Quebec, an independent and democratic republic....
, was set up to overthrow the British colonial governments of Lower and Upper Canada and establish sovereign and democratic republics in their place. A second invasion started on November 3, 1838. Things didn't go as planned and the invasion forces were forced to retreat.
Nelson and others were eventually granted amnesty by the British colonial government and allowed to return home.
Robert Nelson died in 1873 at the age of 78 in Staten Island, New York. He was interred in the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery in Montreal.
Sources
- Richard Crabot, Jacques Monet and Yves Roby. Nelson, Robert, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and Université LavalUniversité LavalLaval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
, 2000 - "The Frères Chasseurs" Canada: A People's History, CBC TelevisionCBC TelevisionCBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
, accessed 2008-02-29 - Georges Aubin (1998). Robert Nelson. Déclaration d'indépendance et autres écrits, Montréal: Comeau & Nadeau, 90 pages (in French)
- Mélissa Blais and Benoit Marsan. Nelson, Robert, in Les Patriotes de 1837@1838, May 20, 2000 (in French)
- Mary Soderstrom. The Words on the Wall: Robert Nelson & the Rebellion of 1837, Ottawa: Oberon Press, 1998, 348 pages (an historical novel)