William Henry Scott (politician)
Encyclopedia
William Henry Scott was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada
and Canada East
.
He was born in Scotland
in 1797 and came to Lower Canada
with his family around 1800, growing up in Montreal
. He became a merchant at Saint-Eustache
and a member of the militia, but was dismissed in 1827 for participating in meetings supporting the Parti patriote. In 1829, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
for York County after the death of the previously elected member; he was elected to represent Deux-Montagnes in 1830 and 1834 after York was divided. He supported the Ninety-Two Resolutions
but did not support the use of force, which meant that both the government and the Patriotes viewed him as a traitor. He fled but was arrested at Montreal
in 1837; he was released in July 1838.
In 1844, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
for Deux-Montagnes; he was reelected in 1848 and 1851. Scott supported the Rebellion Losses Bill
compensating residents of Canada East
for property losses during the Lower Canada Rebellion
; Scott himself was compensated for damage to his home and business. He died at Saint-Eustache in 1851.
Although he had been living with his Catholic
wife since 1829 and they had five children, because he was a Presbyterian
, they were only married two days before his death after Scott was able to persuade bishop Ignace Bourget
to allow the marriage.
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...
and Canada East
Canada East
Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region....
.
He was born in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1797 and came to 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...
with his family around 1800, growing up 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...
. He became a merchant at Saint-Eustache
Saint-Eustache, Quebec
Saint-Eustache is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in western Quebec, Canada, west of Montreal on the north shore of the Rivière des Mille-Îles....
and a member of the militia, but was dismissed in 1827 for participating in meetings supporting the Parti patriote. In 1829, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada was the lower house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The legislative assembly was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791...
for York County after the death of the previously elected member; he was elected to represent Deux-Montagnes in 1830 and 1834 after York was divided. He supported the Ninety-Two Resolutions
Ninety-Two Resolutions
The Ninety-Two Resolutions were drafted by Louis-Joseph Papineau and other members of the Parti patriote of Lower Canada in 1834. The resolutions were a long series of demands for political reforms in the British-governed colony....
but did not support the use of force, which meant that both the government and the Patriotes viewed him as a traitor. He fled but was arrested at 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...
in 1837; he was released in July 1838.
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 Deux-Montagnes; he was reelected in 1848 and 1851. Scott supported the Rebellion Losses Bill
Rebellion Losses Bill
The Rebellion Losses Bill was a controversial law enacted by the legislature of the Province of Canada in 1849...
compensating residents of Canada East
Canada East
Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region....
for property losses during the Lower Canada Rebellion
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...
; Scott himself was compensated for damage to his home and business. He died at Saint-Eustache in 1851.
Although he had been living with his Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
wife since 1829 and they had five children, because he was a Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
, they were only married two days before his death after Scott was able to persuade bishop Ignace Bourget
Ignace Bourget
Ignace Bourget was a French-Canadian Roman Catholic priest who held the title of Bishop of Montreal from 1840 to 1876. Born in Lévis, Quebec in 1799, Bourget entered the clergy at an early age, undertook several courses of religious study, and in 1837 was named co-adjutor bishop of the newly...
to allow the marriage.