William Robertson (politician)
Encyclopedia
William Robertson was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Scotland
around 1760 and settled in Detroit in 1782. By 1788, he was an important merchant in the fur trade
in the area and he was appointed to the district court and land board of the Hesse District of Upper Canada. Robertson resigned from his position as judge because he felt he was not qualified. In July 1792, he was appointed to the Executive Council
and Legislative Council of Upper Canada
. He resigned both offices in November, possibly because he believed that his business interests kept him too occupied.
He had close business ties to Robert Hamilton, who had married his brother's widow in 1785. He also held a number of contract to supply garrisons in Upper Canada. Robertson moved to Montreal
in 1797. After the death of his first wife in 1800, he returned to the Kingdom of Great Britain
and married again in 1803, but the marriage only lasted a few months.
In 1795, Robertson was part of a partnership with Ebenezer Allen
and Charles Whitney of Vermont, Robert Randal
l of Philadelphia and several other British subjects in Detroit including John Askin
, which planned to buy the entire lower Michigan peninsula from the United States government.
He died in London
, England
in 1806.
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 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...
around 1760 and settled in Detroit in 1782. By 1788, he was an important merchant in the fur trade
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...
in the area and he was appointed to the district court and land board of the Hesse District of Upper Canada. Robertson resigned from his position as judge because he felt he was not qualified. In July 1792, he was appointed to the Executive Council
Executive Council of Upper Canada
The Executive Council of Upper Canada had a similar function to the Cabinet in England but was not responsible to the Legislative Assembly. Members of the Executive Council were not necessarily members of the Legislative Assembly but were usually members of the Legislative Council. Members were...
and Legislative Council of Upper Canada
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 resigned both offices in November, possibly because he believed that his business interests kept him too occupied.
He had close business ties to Robert Hamilton, who had married his brother's widow in 1785. He also held a number of contract to supply garrisons in Upper Canada. Robertson moved to 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 1797. After the death of his first wife in 1800, he returned to the Kingdom of Great Britain
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...
and married again in 1803, but the marriage only lasted a few months.
In 1795, Robertson was part of a partnership with Ebenezer Allen
Ebenezer Allen
Ebenezer Allen was an American soldier, pioneer, and member of the Vermont General Assembly. He was born in Northampton, Massachusetts on 17 October 1743. His parents were Samuel Allen and Hannah Miller ....
and Charles Whitney of Vermont, Robert Randal
Robert Randal
Robert Randal was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born Robert Randall in Maryland around 1766; after 1809, he spelled his surname Randal. In 1795, he was part of a partnership which wished to buy the lower Michigan peninsula from the United States government...
l of Philadelphia and several other British subjects in Detroit including John Askin
John Askin
John Askin was a fur trader, merchant and official in Upper Canada.He was born in Aughnacloy in Ireland in 1739; his ancestors are believed to have originally lived in Scotland with the surname Erskine. He came to North America with the British Army in 1758. After the British took over New France,...
, which planned to buy the entire lower Michigan peninsula from the United States government.
He died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 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 1806.