William Benjamin Robinson
Encyclopedia
William Benjamin Robinson (December 22, 1797 – July 18, 1873) was a fur trade
r and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Kingston
in 1797, the son of Christopher Robinson
and Esther Sayre, and moved to York (Toronto
) with his family in 1798. In 1802, his mother remarried after his father's death and moved to Newmarket
, where he grew up. Robinson later took over his stepfather's (Elisha Beman
) mills and stores. He later joined his brother Peter
in the fur trade, operating mainly in the Muskoka district
. In 1830, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
for Simcoe
; he was reelected in 1834 and 1836. He oversaw the development of the Welland Canal
starting in 1833.
In 1843, he negotiated a treaty with the Chippewa
s of Lake Simcoe
where 700 acres (2.8 km²) were "set aside to be held in trust" for their use. In 1844, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
for Simcoe as a Tory
; he held the seat until 1854, when he was reelected in South Simcoe. In December in that year, he was appointed inspector-general; he resigned the following March because he opposed William Henry Draper
's bill to create a University of Upper Canada. In 1846, he was appointed chief commissioner of public works. In the assembly, he opposed the secularization of King's College
and of the clergy reserves. He helped promote a railway link between the Province of Canada
and the Maritimes
. He opposed a proposed Separate School
act for Canada West in 1855.
In 1850, he negotiated two more treaties
with native leaders:
In 1852, he became a commissioner of the Canada Company
.
After the death of his wife in 1865, Robinson left Canada and return in 1867. He died in Toronto in 1873.
His brother John Beverley was a judge and member of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council
.
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 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...
.
He was born in Kingston
Kingston, 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...
in 1797, the son of Christopher Robinson
Christopher Robinson (politician)
Christopher Robinson was an American-born soldier, lawyer and political figure in Upper Canada.-Early life:He was born in Virginia in 1763, the son of John Robinson, Speaker of the House of Burgesses and sometime President of the Council of Virginia, and his wife Catherine, daughter of Major...
and Esther Sayre, and moved to York (Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
) with his family in 1798. In 1802, his mother remarried after his father's death and moved to Newmarket
Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
, where he grew up. Robinson later took over his stepfather's (Elisha Beman
Elisha Beman
Elisha Beman was a businessman involved in settlement and the trade derived from that endeavour. He was also a JP and held political offices.Beman was born in New York in 1760 and arrived at York, Upper Canada in 1795....
) mills and stores. He later joined his brother Peter
Peter Robinson (1785-1838)
Peter Robinson was born in New Brunswick, the eldest son of Christopher Robinson and Esther Sayre, ayre. He had two brothers, John Beverley and William Benjamin, and two sisters....
in the fur trade, operating mainly in the Muskoka district
Muskoka District Municipality, Ontario
The District Municipality of Muskoka, more generally referred to as the District of Muskoka, or simply Muskoka, is a Regional Municipality located in Central Ontario, Canada. Muskoka extends from Georgian Bay in the west, to the northern tip of Lake Couchiching in the south, to the western border...
. In 1830, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
for Simcoe
Simcoe County, Ontario
Simcoe County is located in central portion of Southern Ontario. The County is situated just north of the Greater Toronto Area stretching from the shores of Lake Simcoe in the east to Georgian Bay in the west...
; he was reelected in 1834 and 1836. He oversaw the development of the Welland Canal
Welland Canal
The Welland Canal is a ship canal in Canada that extends from Port Weller, Ontario, on Lake Ontario, to Port Colborne, Ontario, on Lake Erie. As a part of the St...
starting in 1833.
In 1843, he negotiated a treaty with the Chippewa
Ojibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
s of Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe
Lake Simcoe is a lake in Southern Ontario, Canada, the fourth-largest lake wholly in the province, after Lake Nipigon, Lac Seul, and Lake Nipissing. At the time of the first European contact in the 17th century the lake was called Ouentironk by the Huron natives...
where 700 acres (2.8 km²) were "set aside to be held in trust" for their use. In 1844, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house of the legislature for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the...
for Simcoe as a Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
; he held the seat until 1854, when he was reelected in South Simcoe. In December in that year, he was appointed inspector-general; he resigned the following March because he opposed William Henry Draper
William Henry Draper
William Henry Draper was a lawyer, judge, and politician in Upper Canada later Canada West.-Personal life:...
's bill to create a University of Upper Canada. In 1846, he was appointed chief commissioner of public works. In the assembly, he opposed the secularization of King's College
University of Toronto
The 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 of the clergy reserves. He helped promote a railway link between 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...
and the Maritimes
Maritimes
The Maritime provinces, also called the Maritimes or the Canadian Maritimes, is a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. On the Atlantic coast, the Maritimes are a subregion of Atlantic Canada, which also includes the...
. He opposed a proposed Separate School
Separate school
In Canada, separate school refers to a particular type of school that has constitutional status in three provinces and statutory status in three territories...
act for Canada West in 1855.
In 1850, he negotiated two more treaties
Robinson Treaty
Robinson Treaty may refer to one of three treaties signed between the Ojibwa chiefs and The Crown.-Lake Superior:The Robinson Treaty for the Lake Superior region, commonly called Robinson Superior Treaty, was entered into agreement on September 7, 1850, at Sault Ste...
with native leaders:
- one covering land along Lake SuperiorLake SuperiorLake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
from Batchawana BayBatchawana BayBatchawana Bay is a small bay on the eastern shore of Lake Superior, approximately north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.Batchawana Bay was termed Badjiwanung by the Ojibwe, referring to water that bubbles up. This occurs between Batchawana Island and Sand Point, where the lake narrows and a...
to Pigeon RiverPigeon River (Minnesota-Ontario)The Pigeon River forms part of the US-Canada border between the State of Minnesota and the Province of Ontario west of Lake Superior. In pre-industrial times the river was a waterway of great importance for transportation and trade.-Geography:... - one which covered land from Batchawana Bay to Penetanguishene
In 1852, he became a commissioner of the Canada Company
Canada Company
The Canada Company was a large private chartered British land development company, incorporated by an act of British parliament on July 27, 1825, to aid the colonization of Upper Canada. Canada Company assisted emigrants by providing good ships, low fares, implements and tools,and inexpensive land....
.
After the death of his wife in 1865, Robinson left Canada and return in 1867. He died in Toronto in 1873.
His brother John Beverley was a judge and member of the Legislative Assembly and 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...
.