608:. The Lafontaine-Baldwin ministry resigned. Holmes was one of the co-sponsors of a resolution in the Legislative Assembly, supporting the outgoing Reform ministry and calling on the Governor General to respect the principle of responsible government. From his initial Tory position, he had shifted to a moderate independent position, and ended the last session as a member of the reform-minded French-Canadian Group. He explained that his views on cooperation with the French-Canadian members had changed over the course of the Parliament. This transition in his political views had resulted in a loss of support from some in the Montreal English-speaking community, who viewed him as a "ratter".
33:
267:
466:(general manager) of the Bank. For the next twenty years, from 1927 to 1947, he guided the development of the Bank, taking responsibility for his management decisions and acting in a non-partisan fashion, which was important for an English-speaking banking organization in the increasingly heated ethnic politics of Lower Canada. However, after his first term as a member of the
645:
By 1833, Holmes was involved in
Montreal municipal politics. He was elected to the city council representing the west ward of the city from 1842 to 1846, and again from 1850 to 1851. In 1843, Holmes was involved in unsuccessful mediation efforts to avert strikes by workers on the Lachine and
624:
Holmes was not a candidate in the general election of 1844, but he did stand for election in the general election of 1848. He was elected in the
Montreal riding, along with Lafontaine. He was disappointed at not being named to the Cabinet, but supported the Lafontaine-Baldwin ministry in the
592:. However, over the course of the three annual sessions of the Parliament, Holmes gradually shifted towards the coalition of Reformers and the French-Canadian Group, and away from supporting the governor general. The major showdown between Governor General Sir
981:
438:(now Ontario), but was taken prisoner in October. He was held as a prisoner of war in Kentucky, before being released in 1814. He was engaged in some commercial activities in Upper Canada, and then in 1815 received a new commission as an
449:
of 1837–1838, Holmes served as lieutenant-colonel in the
Montreal Light Infantry. In that role, he took an active part in suppressing the Rebellion, which won him support amongst the Montreal English-speaking community.
391:, Holmes was the son of Thomas Holmes and Susanna Scott. His father had some military background. In 1797, the Holmes family took ship to North America, but their vessel was captured by a French frigate and taken as a
654:
Except for his attempt to become mayor of
Montreal in 1860, Holmes had largely withdrawn from politics by the mid-1850s. In a late recognition of his contribution to the Reform cause, the Liberal government of
500:
acquired the St. Lawrence and
Atlantic, Holmes continued as a vice-president of the Grand Trunk. That same year, he was elected a director of the Bank of Montreal. He retained that position until his death.
611:
By 1844, the Bank of
Montreal was suffering due to the absence of Holmes. He was persuaded by the Lafontaine group to resign his seat to trigger a by-election, which was won by the Lafontaine candidate,
407:
616:. Holmes returned to work at the bank, but he found that his political stances hampered his reputation for impartiality in the business community. He resigned from the bank in 1846.
633:. Holmes broke with the Reform ministry in 1850, when he became a supporter of annexation and more extensive legal and political reforms. He was moving from Reform to the nascent
562:
He . . . had taken his seat in
Parliament with prejudice for his guide — the veil had since fallen from his eyes, and he was ready to act cordially with gentlemen of French origin.
670:, who had served for a short time in the first Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada, before being appointed a judge of the Lower Canada Court of Queen's Bench.
646:
Beauharnois Canals, the bloodiest in the history of the
Canadian labour movement. He was defeated in two attempts to become mayor of Montreal, in 1850 and again in 1860.
577:
52:
630:
986:
573:
546:
467:
364:
48:
550:
589:
406:
in
Montreal. Benjamin's brother Andrew apprenticed under Dr Arnoldi and was one of the founders of the Montreal Medical Institute, the forerunner to the
554:
470:, he found his political neutrality called into question by the English-speaking business community. He resigned from the Bank of Montreal in 1847.
681:
971:
367:. In spite of his service in the War of 1812, he was a supporter of annexation by the United States in the late 1840s, and a signatory of the
311:
917:
593:
991:
976:
493:
485:, calling for the annexation of the Province of Canada by the United States. That led to the breakup of his partnership with Young.
348:
283:
538:
524:
474:
159:
581:
72:
482:
368:
941:
727:
423:
523:
in Upper Canada, the
British government decided to merge the two provinces into a single province, as recommended by
821:
597:
584:, another Montreal businessman. A firm supporter of the union of the Canadas, Holmes initially was a member of the
128:
656:
399:, was born during their captivity. Finally, in 1801, they were able to complete their voyage to Lower Canada.
933:
431:
719:
660:
605:
520:
446:
396:
328:
229:
835:
626:
613:
143:
107:
966:
961:
488:
He then became involved in the construction of a railway to connect Montreal to the ice-free port of
478:
497:
372:
114:
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Montreal (two-member constituency)
588:
group from Canada East (as Lower Canada was now known), and a supporter of the Governor General,
542:
211:
879:
477:, a fellow merchant and politician in Montreal. However, in 1849, following the repeal of the
913:
667:
585:
532:
239:
459:
356:
489:
155:
78:
765:
395:
to Cadiz, Spain. The family was kept in Spain for four years. Holmes' younger brother,
601:
403:
272:
234:
955:
528:
439:
812:(Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1962; reprinted in paperback 2015), pp. 3–4.
435:
344:
634:
427:
392:
352:
324:
32:
982:
Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from Canada East
541:, abolished the two provinces and their separate parliaments, and created the
838:
Political Appointments and Elections in the Province of Canada, 1841 to 1860
781:
572:
In the first general election of 1841, Holmes was elected unopposed to the
545:, with a single parliament for the entire province, composed of an elected
629:. The passage of the bill resulted in an English-speaking mob rioting and
797:
The Union of the Canadas — The Growth of Canadian Institutions, 1841–1857
419:
355:, including a period of captivity by the American forces. He joined the
207:
463:
388:
360:
191:
458:
In 1817, he began work as a discount clerk with the newly established
301:
Lieutenant (War of 1812); Lieutenant-Colonel (Lower Canada Rebellion)
384:
187:
473:
Holmes then began a merchandise and railway promotion business with
884:, Volume XI (1881-1890), University of Toronto / Université Laval.
637:. He did not stand for election in the general election of 1851.
663:
appointed Holmes as the receiver of customs at Montreal in 1863.
770:, Volume IX (1861-1870), University of Toronto/Université Laval.
910:
An Irish Heart - How a Small Immigrant Community Shaped Canada
868:
The Union of the Canadas — The Growth of Canadian Institutions
938:
Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours
724:
Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours
519:
Following the rebellion in Lower Canada, and the similar
363:(general manager) by 1827. He was twice a member of the
481:
and its effect on Canadian exports, Holmes signed the
402:
In 1819, Holmes married Élisabeth Arnoldi, daughter of
912:(1st ed.). Toronto: HarperCollins. p. 96.
666:
In 1853, his daughter Maria Margaret Holmes married
426:, but joined the Canadian Light Dragoons during the
359:
shortly after it formed in 1817, and rose to be the
430:, becoming lieutenant in 1813. He took part in the
347:businessman and political figure. He served in the
320:
305:
297:
289:
279:
259:
254:
246:
225:
217:
197:
174:
169:
149:
135:
113:
101:
89:
46:
23:
799:(Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1967), pp. 1–5.
896:Alignment of Political Groups in Canada, 1841–67
855:Alignment of Political Groups in Canada, 1841–67
810:Alignment of Political Groups in Canada, 1841–67
840:(Quebec: St. Michel and Darveau, 1860), p. 44.
560:
375:, and also a director of the Bank of Montreal.
574:Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
557:retained a strong position in the government.
468:Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
365:Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
49:Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
418:Holmes began work as a clerk with a group of
8:
343:(April 23, 1794 – May 23, 1865) was a
631:burning the Parliament building in Montreal
31:
20:
849:
847:
625:Assembly, including the debates over the
604:came in 1843, over the implementation of
682:1st Parliament of the Province of Canada
880:J.I. Little, "Drummond, Lewis Thomas",
692:
766:Lorne Ste. Croix, "Holmes, Benjamin",
761:
759:
757:
576:as one of two members for the city of
987:Montreal Annexation Manifesto signers
755:
753:
751:
749:
747:
745:
743:
741:
739:
737:
714:
712:
710:
708:
706:
704:
702:
700:
698:
696:
492:, and became a vice-president of the
371:. He became a vice-president of the
7:
825:, 3 & 4 Vict., c. 35 (UK), s. 3.
316:Montreal Light Infantry (1837–1838)
309:Canadian Light Dragoons (1813–1814)
494:St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad
16:Lower Canada banker and politician
14:
673:Holmes died at Montreal in 1865.
934:"Biography of Charles Dewey Day"
882:Dictionary of Canadian Biography
768:Dictionary of Canadian Biography
265:
908:Driedger, Sharon Doyle (2010).
462:. Within ten years, he became
720:"Biography of Benjamin Holmes"
1:
972:Directors of Bank of Montreal
783:Montreal Annexation Manifesto
483:Montreal Annexation Manifesto
369:Montreal Annexation Manifesto
942:National Assembly of Quebec
728:National Assembly of Quebec
641:Montreal municipal politics
596:and the Reform ministry of
442:in the Canadian Fencibles.
221:Élisabeth Arnoldi (m. 1819)
1008:
620:Second term: 1848 to 1851
598:Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine
129:Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine
992:Montreal city councillors
977:Irish emigrants to Canada
515:First term: 1841 to 1844
408:McGill School of Medicine
334:
165:
118:
59:
55:(two-member constituency)
42:
30:
780:Annexation Association,
657:John Sandfield Macdonald
432:Niagara campaign of 1813
312:Canadian Light Fencibles
479:imperial preference law
349:militia of Lower Canada
37:Benjamin Holmes in 1863
606:responsible government
564:
447:Lower Canada Rebellion
397:Andrew Fernando Holmes
329:Lower Canada Rebellion
230:Andrew Fernando Holmes
627:Rebellion Losses Bill
614:Lewis Thomas Drummond
496:. In 1853, when the
379:Early life and family
290:Years of service
144:Lewis Thomas Drummond
127:Serving with
108:Lewis Thomas Drummond
68:Serving with
898:, pp. 28–29, 69, 84.
547:Legislative Assembly
284:Lower Canada militia
857:, pp. 5, 12, 93–97.
661:Antoine-Aimé Dorion
551:Legislative Council
498:Grand Trunk Railway
373:Grand Trunk Railway
543:Province of Canada
539:British Parliament
510:Province of Canada
212:Province of Canada
919:978-0-00-639488-4
808:Paul G. Cornell,
795:J.M.S. Careless,
668:Charles Dewey Day
549:and an appointed
521:rebellion in 1837
404:Dr Daniel Arnoldi
338:
337:
240:Charles Dewey Day
999:
946:
945:
930:
924:
923:
905:
899:
892:
886:
877:
871:
864:
858:
851:
842:
833:
827:
819:
813:
806:
800:
793:
787:
778:
772:
763:
732:
731:
716:
594:Charles Metcalfe
568:
555:Governor General
537:, passed by the
505:Political career
460:Bank of Montreal
422:merchants under
383:Born in 1794 in
357:Bank of Montreal
275:
271:
269:
268:
255:Military service
204:
184:
182:
170:Personal details
152:
138:
123:
104:
92:
64:
35:
21:
1007:
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932:
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927:
920:
907:
906:
902:
893:
889:
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874:
865:
861:
852:
845:
834:
830:
823:Union Act, 1840
820:
816:
807:
803:
794:
790:
779:
775:
764:
735:
718:
717:
694:
689:
679:
652:
643:
622:
570:
567:Benjamin Holmes
566:
534:Union Act, 1840
517:
512:
507:
490:Portland, Maine
456:
454:Business career
416:
414:Militia service
381:
341:Benjamin Holmes
327:
315:
310:
266:
264:
263:
238:
237:(father-in-law)
233:
206:
202:
186:
180:
178:
158:
156:William Badgley
150:
142:
141:Pierre Beaubien
136:
131:
124:
119:
102:
90:
85:
84:
79:Pierre Beaubien
65:
60:
38:
26:
25:Benjamin Holmes
17:
12:
11:
5:
1005:
1003:
995:
994:
989:
984:
979:
974:
969:
964:
954:
953:
948:
947:
925:
918:
900:
887:
872:
859:
843:
828:
814:
801:
788:
773:
733:
691:
690:
688:
685:
678:
675:
651:
648:
642:
639:
621:
618:
602:Robert Baldwin
582:George Moffatt
559:
516:
513:
511:
508:
506:
503:
455:
452:
415:
412:
380:
377:
336:
335:
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280:Branch/service
277:
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261:
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256:
252:
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248:
244:
243:
235:Daniel Arnoldi
227:
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219:
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205:(aged 71)
199:
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185:April 23, 1794
176:
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57:
56:
47:Member of the
44:
43:
40:
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36:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1004:
993:
990:
988:
985:
983:
980:
978:
975:
973:
970:
968:
965:
963:
960:
959:
957:
943:
940:(in French).
939:
935:
929:
926:
921:
915:
911:
904:
901:
897:
891:
888:
885:
883:
876:
873:
869:
863:
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839:
832:
829:
826:
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758:
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750:
748:
746:
744:
742:
740:
738:
734:
729:
726:(in French).
725:
721:
715:
713:
711:
709:
707:
705:
703:
701:
699:
697:
693:
686:
684:
683:
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647:
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638:
636:
632:
628:
619:
617:
615:
609:
607:
603:
599:
595:
591:
590:Lord Sydenham
587:
583:
579:
575:
569:
563:
558:
556:
552:
548:
544:
540:
536:
535:
530:
529:Durham Report
526:
522:
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486:
484:
480:
476:
471:
469:
465:
461:
453:
451:
448:
443:
441:
437:
433:
429:
425:
424:Horatio Gates
421:
413:
411:
409:
405:
400:
398:
394:
390:
386:
378:
376:
374:
370:
366:
362:
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140:
134:
130:
122:
117:
112:
109:
106:
100:
97:
94:
88:
80:
77:
74:
73:George Moffat
71:
70:
63:
58:
54:
50:
45:
41:
34:
29:
22:
19:
937:
928:
909:
903:
895:
890:
881:
875:
867:
862:
854:
837:
831:
822:
817:
809:
804:
796:
791:
782:
776:
767:
723:
680:
672:
665:
653:
644:
623:
610:
586:British Tory
580:, alongside
571:
565:
561:
533:
518:
487:
472:
457:
444:
436:Upper Canada
417:
401:
382:
345:Lower Canada
340:
339:
321:Battles/wars
293:1813 to 1815
242:(son-in-law)
203:(1865-05-23)
201:May 23, 1865
151:Succeeded by
120:
103:Succeeded by
96:New position
95:
61:
18:
967:1865 deaths
962:1794 births
836:J.O. Côté,
635:Parti rouge
525:Lord Durham
445:During the
428:War of 1812
353:War of 1812
351:during the
325:War of 1812
314:(1814–1815)
250:Businessman
137:Preceded by
91:Preceded by
81:(1843–1844)
75:(1841–1843)
956:Categories
866:Careless,
687:References
475:John Young
260:Allegiance
247:Occupation
181:1794-04-23
160:John Young
894:Cornell,
853:Cornell,
650:Last days
232:(brother)
226:Relations
125:1848–1851
121:In office
66:1841–1844
62:In office
870:, p. 87.
677:See also
578:Montreal
420:Montreal
208:Montreal
53:Montreal
786:(1849).
531:. The
527:in the
464:cashier
389:Ireland
361:cashier
273:Britain
192:Ireland
916:
553:. The
440:ensign
385:Dublin
270:
218:Spouse
188:Dublin
393:prize
914:ISBN
659:and
600:and
306:Unit
298:Rank
198:Died
175:Born
51:for
434:in
958::
936:.
846:^
736:^
722:.
695:^
410:.
387:,
210:,
190:,
944:.
922:.
730:.
183:)
179:(
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