William Morris (Canadian businessman)
Encyclopedia
William Morris was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Paisley, Scotland in 1786, the son of a Scottish manufacturer. His family came to Upper Canada in 1801, where his father set up an import-export business. The business failed and his father retired to a farm near Elizabethtown (Brockville
). After the death of his father, he opened a general store with his brother, Alexander. He joined the militia during the War of 1812
.
In 1816, he opened a second store in the new settlement at Perth
. In 1818, he was appointed justice of the peace in the area and, in 1820, he was elected to the 8th Parliament of Upper Canada
representing Carleton
. He represented Carleton and then Lanark
until 1836, when he was appointed to the Legislative Council
. He also served as lieutenant-colonel in the local militia. He was involved in setting up the first canal connecting the Tay River
to Lower Rideau Lake in 1834.
Although conservative, he was not part of the elite Family Compact
, due in part to his strong affiliation with the Church of Scotland
. His efforts to have the church recognized as one of the two national churches in the British Empire resulted in the creation of the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada
. He also played a major role in establishing Queen's College, later Queen's University
and was the first chairman of the board of trustees. He was appointed to the Legislative Council
when Upper and Lower Canada
were united in 1841. In 1842, he was appointed warden for the Johnstown District. In 1844, he became receiver general for the United Canadas. In 1846, he became president of the Executive Council.
He suffered a stroke in 1853, at which point, he retired from active public life; he died at Montreal in 1858.
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 Paisley, Scotland in 1786, the son of a Scottish manufacturer. His family came to Upper Canada in 1801, where his father set up an import-export business. The business failed and his father retired to a farm near Elizabethtown (Brockville
Brockville, Ontario
Brockville is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada, in the Thousand Islands region. Though it serves as the seat of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Brockville is politically independent and is grouped with Leeds and Grenville for census purposes only.Known as the "City of the 1000...
). After the death of his father, he opened a general store with his brother, Alexander. He joined 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 1816, he opened a second store in the new settlement at Perth
Perth, Ontario
Perth is a town in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada . It is located on the Tay River, 83 km southwest of Ottawa, and is the seat of Lanark County.-History:...
. In 1818, he was appointed justice of the peace in the area and, in 1820, he was elected to the 8th Parliament of Upper Canada
8th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 8th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 31 January 1821. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in July 1820. All sessions were held at York, Upper Canada and sat in the second Parliament Buildings of Upper Canada...
representing Carleton
Carleton County, Ontario
Carleton County is the name of a historic county in Ontario, Canada. In 1969 it was superseded by the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton. In 2001 the Regional Municipality and the eleven local municipalities within it were replaced by the current City of Ottawa.-History:Carleton County was...
. He represented Carleton and then Lanark
Lanark County, Ontario
Lanark County is a county located in the Canadian province of Ontario. As of 2006, the population is 63,785. Its county seat is Perth.The county took its name from the town of Lanark in Scotland.-Geography:...
until 1836, when he was appointed to 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...
. He also served as lieutenant-colonel in the local militia. He was involved in setting up the first canal connecting the Tay River
Tay River (Ontario)
The Tay River is a river in Eastern Ontario which empties into the Rideau River.This river starts in Bobs Lake and flows through Christie Lake. The river then travels through Glen Tay, continuing to Perth. The river splits into two main channels as it flows through downtown Perth. The two...
to Lower Rideau Lake in 1834.
Although conservative, he was not part of the elite Family Compact
Family Compact
Fully developed after the War of 1812, the Compact lasted until Upper and Lower Canada were united in 1841. In Lower Canada, its equivalent was the Château Clique. The influence of the Family Compact on the government administration at different levels lasted to the 1880s...
, due in part to his strong affiliation with the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
. His efforts to have the church recognized as one of the two national churches in the British Empire resulted in the creation of the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
. He also played a major role in establishing Queen's College, later Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
and was the first chairman of the board of trustees. He was appointed to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Council of the Province of Canada was the upper house 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 province of Ontario...
when Upper and 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...
were united in 1841. In 1842, he was appointed warden for the Johnstown District. In 1844, he became receiver general for the United Canadas. In 1846, he became president of the Executive Council.
He suffered a stroke in 1853, at which point, he retired from active public life; he died at Montreal in 1858.
See also
- John BarclayJohn Barclay (clergyman)John Barclay was a Church of Scotland clergyman.Barclay was born in Scotland and trained for the ministry there arriving in Kingston, Upper Canada in 1821. There he became embroiled in an ongoing conflict with the Church of England in the person of the Reverend George Okill Stuart...
- William BellWilliam Bell (1806–44)William Bell was a businessman and militia officer from Perth, Upper Canada.William Bell had a twin brother, John and was the son of William Bell, a Presbyterian missionary, who had arrived in Perth from Scotland in 1817....