687:
51:
907:
Canada West to develop opposition to annexation. The League met in
Kingston in July 1849, and passed motions rejecting annexation. They also passed resolutions calling for a union of the British North American provinces, greater economy in public expenditures, and protectionist measures for Canadian industry. The issue of annexation gradually dwindled. Moffatt considered that the League had helped to demonstrate that the Conservative and Tory political groupings were not supportive of annexation.
366:
679:. Their imprisonment and release after numerous protests contributed to the high tensions in the 1832 election, in which Tracey was a candidate. In his capacity as a magistrate, Moffatt requested the aid of British troops to maintain order at the polls. Three of Tracey's supporters were killed. Moffatt was likely one of the behind-the-scenes originators of a series of venomous anti-French letters which were published in the
813:, another Montreal businessman. During his time in Parliament, Moffatt supported the union of the Canadas and was a consistent supporter of the government of the governors-general, as a member of the "British Tory" group from Canada East. He opposed the restructuring of the ministry in 1842 with a stronger Reform balance. However, Moffatt resigned in 1843 to protest the proposal to move the seat of government from
862:
718:, and prepared a detailed memorandum for him, giving their views on issues that needed to be addressed in Lower Canada. They also provided a letter advising against an elected Legislative Council, which was one of the grievances raised by the Legislative Assembly. Moffatt travelled back to Lower Canada with Durham, and in their discussions, proposed a
742:
889:, thereby ending an imperial preference for Canadian grain products. The repeal had a serious effect on the Canadian economy and led to calls for annexation to the United States by a group of English-speaking Montreal businessmen, traditional Tory supporters. The movement culminated in the publication of the
602:
In the meantime, his company had expanded into a wider range of imports and exports. By 1821, Gillespie, Moffatt and
Company was the largest import-export business in Montreal, with extensive premises in the harbour, as well as owning their own ship. Moffatt's eldest son, Lewis, eventually moved to
582:
In 1811, Moffatt started a new firm, which eventually became
Gillespie, Moffatt, and Company. Moffat ran the Montreal office, while his partner, Robert Gillespie, ran the firm's office in London. The partnership dealt in import-export trade, marine transport, and insurance. The firm became a major
841:
During his time in
Parliament, Moffatt remained focussed on measures that would help the Montreal English-speaking business community and economy, such as improvements to the harbour. He sponsored bills in the Assembly which were favoured by the Montreal Board of Trade, as well as bills relating to
829:
as his fellow
Montreal member. This time, he stayed in office for the entire term of the Parliament. He again generally supported the Governor General's government, as a member of the "British Tory" group from Canada East. On the language issue, however, his views had moderated. He disavowed his
906:
In response, Moffatt helped to organise the
British American League, to argue for the retention of the British connection. As president of the Montreal branch of the League, drawn largely from the English-speaking business community, Moffatt relied on his contacts with the business community in
869:
Although
Moffatt left electoral politics, he continued to be involved in some political disputes. When the issue of compensation for residents of Lower Canada who had suffered property losses during the Rebellion came up in the provincial Parliament in 1849, he indicated that he supported the
454:, on the constitutional reforms following the Rebellion, and supported the union of Lower Canada and Upper Canada. He also urged moderation after the Rebellion, suggesting to the Colonial Secretary that banishment for the most serious rebels was the appropriate penalty.
645:
One of
Moffatt's major interests, both as a businessman and later in the Legislative Assembly, was the improvement of the Montreal harbour. In 1831 he was chosen the chair of the Montreal Harbour Commission, and was heavily involved in projects to improve the harbour.
698:, a lawyer from Montreal, to explain the political situation in Lower Canada to members of the British government, and outline the position of the "British Party" in Lower Canada. The Rebellion broke out while they were in London. During that time, they met with the
548:
Moffatt made various trips to the northwest as part of the fur trade. At one point he married an
Indigenous woman in a common law relationship, by whom he had one son around 1809. Relationships of this type were common in the fur trading community, and were termed
1222:
817:
to
Montreal, on the basis that it was unfair to the residents of Canada West to have the government so far away; Kingston was in Canada West, but close to the border with Canada East. In the subsequent by-election in November 1843, Moffatt was replaced by
794:, Thomson described Moffatt as "the most pig headed, obstinate, ill tempered brute in the Canadas . . . whom I shall certainly not put in the new Legislative Council". However, Thomson supported Moffatt as a candidate to the new Legislative Assembly.
480:
in Lower Canada, and opposed any conciliatory measures towards the French-Canadians, his views gradually moderated. By his second term in the Legislative Assembly, he was the seconder of the motion calling on the British government to amend the
671:, which had a large French-Canadian majority. He also contributed to the political tensions by bringing criminal charges against the editors of two newspapers who had published articles criticising the Legislative Council,
615:. By 1845, they had developed a large portfolio of insured properties in Montreal. An inspector for the British parent company reported favourably in 1846 on Moffatt's judgment in assessing risks in Montreal.
1212:
879:
Moffatt was also involved in a political movement amongst the Tories of Canada East and Canada West in 1849, in response to the annexation movement. The British Parliament had repealed the
667:. He was one of the leaders of the British "constitutionalist" party in the Montreal area, and contributed to the decisions of the Legislative Council to reject bills passed by the elected
1217:
790:(later Lord Sydenham). Thomson did not get along with Moffatt and refused to appoint him to the Legislative Council of the new province. In a letter to the new Colonial Secretary,
910:
After leaving politics, Moffatt continued his business activities in Montreal, particularly in banking and railways, part of a period of rapid economic changes and development.
706:. Moffatt recommended moderation in dealing with the rebels, suggesting banishment of only a few of the most serious cases. He also supported a union of Lower Canada with
556:
or "marriage according to the custom of the country". Moffatt brought his son, Lewis, back to Montreal with him. Lewis Moffatt became a well-respected businessman in
806:
466:
160:
494:, to compensate residents of Lower Canada for property damage in the Rebellion. He also was one of the organisers of the British American League, which opposed the
802:
772:
462:
156:
1237:
776:
825:
The next general election was in 1844, and Moffatt again contested the Montreal seat. He was successful, defeating Beaubien and returning to Parliament, with
639:
787:
780:
1242:
921:
1232:
826:
223:
1247:
810:
177:
753:, Lord Durham recommended that Lower Canada and Upper Canada be merged into two provinces, with local control provided by the principles of
668:
618:
Outside the partnership, Moffatt also had significant business activities on his own behalf, investing in real estate, settlement in the
699:
660:
623:
431:
63:
686:
1252:
627:
1227:
439:
382:
94:
550:
764:
715:
529:
in 1801 at the age of 14, under the sponsorship of a Montreal merchant, John Ogilvy. After further studies at William-Henry (now
473:
to Montreal, but was re-elected in the general election of 1844. He did not stand for election in the general election of 1848.
451:
730:
443:
125:
33:
791:
890:
495:
683:
in the summer of 1835, opposing the British government's attempts at conciliation with French-Canadians in Lower Canada.
638:. In 1822 he was a founding member of the Montreal Committee of Trade. By 1844, he was president of its successor, the
588:
725:
Moffatt served in the Legislative Council until 1838, when the constitution of Lower Canada was suspended by a British
971:
779:. However, the British government did not immediately accept Durham's recommendation for responsible government. The
1064:
1106:
664:
447:
252:
870:
measure, even though the compensation was highly controversial with British Tories. In fact, the passage of the
583:
supply house associated with the North West Company, but Moffatt maintained business connections with the rival
538:
424:
786:
Durham's tenure as governor general was short, and he was replaced in 1839 by a British member of Parliament,
831:
584:
847:
754:
435:
963:
1165:
1150:
1120:
872:
711:
659:
In the early 1830s, Moffat was active in Montreal municipal politics. In 1830, he was appointed to the
491:
238:
419:). Born in England, he emigrated to Lower Canada at the age of 14. He became involved in business in
1207:
1202:
885:
568:
694:
In the fall of 1837, in the run-up to the Lower Canada Rebellion, Moffatt travelled to London with
612:
541:. Moffatt later joined McTavish, McGillivray and Company, part of a rival fur-trading company, the
209:
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Montreal (two-member constituency)
611:, and opened a successful branch office of the firm. The company was also Canadian agents for the
768:
542:
306:
843:
814:
758:
726:
619:
483:
477:
470:
599:
in Canada by smoothing the way for the merger of the North West Company and the HBC in 1821.
430:
Moffatt was involved in the municipal politics of Montreal, and in 1830 was appointed to the
895:
635:
469:. He resigned his seat in 1843 to protest the proposal to move the seat of government from
830:
earlier comments that only English should be used in Parliament, and seconded a motion by
819:
719:
695:
672:
631:
202:
17:
1036:
1021:
498:
of the late 1840s. He continued in his business activities for the rest of his life.
487:
to allow French to be used in the provincial Parliament, on the same status as English.
1181:
1136:
1092:
592:
371:
407:(August 13, 1787 – February 25, 1865) was a businessman and political figure in
1196:
750:
676:
622:, railway construction, mining, and banking. He was an investor and promoter in the
530:
514:
285:
1097:(Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1962; reprinted in paperback 2015), pp. 3–4.
707:
703:
608:
557:
526:
458:
408:
900:
861:
798:
564:
412:
392:
574:
In 1816, Moffatt married Sophia MacRae in Montreal. The couple had three sons.
1223:
Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from Canada East
767:, abolished the two provinces and their separate parliaments, and created the
534:
50:
710:. Moffatt and Badgley also met with the newly appointed Governor General of
1123:
Political Appointments and Elections in the Province of Canada, 1841 to 1860
880:
596:
771:, with a single parliament for the entire province, composed of an elected
741:
876:
led to Tory riots in Montreal and the burning of the Parliament building.
1080:
The Union of the Canadas — The Growth of Canadian Institutions, 1841–1857
510:
420:
302:
281:
899:
on October 11, 1849. One of the prominent signers of the Manifesto was
604:
518:
903:, a leading lawyer in Montreal and a future prime minister of Canada.
853:
Moffatt chose not to be a candidate in the general elections of 1848.
490:
After leaving electoral politics, Moffatt supported the controversial
522:
416:
690:
Lord Durham, who took advice from Moffatt on the political situation
450:, which was suspended. He provided advice to the Governor General,
1041:, Volume XII (1891-1900), University of Toronto / Université Laval.
1026:, Volume IX (1861-1870), University of Toronto / Université Laval.
860:
838:
to allow French to be used as an official language in Parliament.
740:
685:
797:
In the first general elections in 1841, Moffatt was elected by
476:
Although Moffatt began his political career as a leader of the
1168:
Political Appointments and Elections in the Province of Canada
1153:
Political Appointments and Elections in the Province of Canada
968:
Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours
591:, a trader for the HBC, during his expeditions to the
1055:(Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1980), at p. 226.
1053:
Lower Canada 1791–1840: Social Change and Nationalism
626:, the first public railway in Canada, as well as the
729:, as a result of the Rebellion. He was named to the
745:
Lord Sydenham, who thought Moffatt was "pig headed"
388:
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92:
80:
61:
41:
1213:Members of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada
563:Moffatt served in the Montreal militia during the
533:), he joined Ogilvy's firm, which was part of the
1082:(Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1967), pp. 1–5.
834:, calling on the British Parliament to amend the
630:, connecting Montreal to the ice-free harbour of
1183:Alignment of Political Groups in Canada, 1841–67
1138:Alignment of Political Groups in Canada, 1841–67
1094:Alignment of Political Groups in Canada, 1841–67
733:that governed the province after the Rebellion.
316:(1) Wife of Indigenous ancestry; name unknown (
1125:(Quebec: St. Michel and Darveau, 1860), p. 44.
595:country. Moffatt helped bring stability to the
446:, an appointed body that took the place of the
1218:Members of the Special Council of Lower Canada
803:Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
783:retained a strong position in the government.
463:Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
157:Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
521:in 1787. After a brief period of studies in
138:November 2, 1838 – February 10, 1841
8:
32:For other people named George Moffatt, see
567:, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel
107:November 1838 – February 10, 1841
49:
38:
27:Businessman and politician in Lower Canada
922:1st Parliament of the Province of Canada
932:
1022:Gerald Tulchinsky, "Moffatt, George",
1017:
1015:
1013:
1011:
1009:
1007:
1005:
1003:
1001:
958:
956:
805:as one of two members for the city of
438:of 1837–1838, he was appointed to the
999:
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987:
985:
983:
981:
954:
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950:
948:
946:
944:
942:
940:
938:
936:
457:After the union of Lower Canada with
7:
1238:19th-century Canadian businesspeople
1110:, 3 & 4 Vict., c. 35 (UK), s. 3.
669:Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
1037:Douglas McCalla, "Moffatt, Lewis",
827:Clément-Charles Sabrevois de Bleury
661:Legislative Council of Lower Canada
634:. He was an early director of the
624:Champlain and St. Lawrence Railroad
432:Legislative Council of Lower Canada
224:Clément-Charles Sabrevois de Bleury
64:Legislative Council of Lower Canada
913:Moffatt died in Montreal in 1865.
628:St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad
25:
1066:Lower Canada Government Act, 1838
587:. In 1815 and 1816, he assisted
440:Executive Council of Lower Canada
95:Executive Council of Lower Canada
1039:Dictionary of Canadian Biography
1024:Dictionary of Canadian Biography
842:charitable institutions such as
364:
174:1841 – October 30, 1843
1243:Pre-Confederation Quebec people
751:report on British North America
731:Special Council of Lower Canada
496:Montreal annexationist movement
444:Special Council of Lower Canada
126:Special Council of Lower Canada
34:George Moffatt (disambiguation)
722:of the two Canadas to Durham.
613:Phoenix Fire Assurance Company
509:Moffatt was born in Sidehead,
1:
1233:Directors of Bank of Montreal
964:"Biography of George Moffatt"
891:Montreal Annexation Manifesto
501:He died in Montreal in 1865.
461:, Moffatt was elected to the
317:
87:None; constitution suspended
1248:Businesspeople from Montreal
465:, as one of two members for
972:National Assembly of Quebec
1269:
1155:, p. 56, notes (20), (21).
665:Parliament of Lower Canada
448:Parliament of Lower Canada
253:Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine
31:
18:George Moffatt (1787–1865)
1253:Politicians from Montreal
663:, the upper house of the
398:
258:
213:
167:
163:(two-member constituency)
131:
100:
69:
57:
48:
1228:Anglophone Quebec people
1068:, 1 & 2 Vict., c. 9.
325:(2) Sophia MacRae (1816)
1141:, pp. 5, 10, 11, 93–95.
832:Denis-Benjamin Papineau
640:Montreal Board of Trade
149:None; office abolished
118:None; office abolished
866:
755:responsible government
746:
691:
436:Lower Canada Rebellion
873:Rebellion Losses Bill
865:Moffatt in later life
864:
744:
712:British North America
689:
492:Rebellion Losses Bill
239:Lewis Thomas Drummond
222:Serving with
176:Serving with
886:Canada Corn Act 1843
857:Later life and death
773:Legislative Assembly
585:Hudson's Bay Company
569:Charles de Salaberry
383:Lower Canada militia
1051:Fernand Ouellette,
848:Grey Nuns' Hospital
777:Legislative Council
867:
769:Province of Canada
765:British Parliament
747:
737:Province of Canada
700:Colonial Secretary
692:
553:à la façon du pays
543:North West Company
537:, involved in the
525:, he emigrated to
307:Province of Canada
1091:Paul G. Cornell,
1078:J.M.S. Careless,
846:and the Montreal
844:McGill University
775:and an appointed
727:Act of Parliament
720:legislative union
620:Eastern Townships
434:. Following the
402:
401:
296:February 25, 1865
191:None; new office
16:(Redirected from
1260:
1187:
1186:, pp. 16, 98–99.
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976:
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896:Montreal Gazette
883:, including the
781:Governor General
763:, passed by the
650:Political career
636:Bank of Montreal
423:, including the
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354:Military service
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263:Personal details
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1108:Union Act, 1840
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1031:
1020:
979:
962:
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934:
929:
919:
859:
836:Union Act, 1840
820:Pierre Beaubien
811:Benjamin Holmes
788:Charles Thomson
760:Union Act, 1840
739:
696:William Badgley
681:Montreal Herald
673:Ludger Duvernay
657:
652:
632:Portland, Maine
589:Colin Robertson
580:
578:Business career
507:
484:Union Act, 1840
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278:August 13, 1787
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250:Benjamin Holmes
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203:Pierre Beaubien
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648:
579:
576:
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478:British Tories
405:George Moffatt
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379:Branch/service
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300:(aged 77)
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155:Member of the
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124:Member of the
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109:
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93:Member of the
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84:
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62:Member of the
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43:George Moffatt
42:
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2:
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970:(in French).
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104:
99:
96:
91:
88:
85:
79:
73:
68:
65:
60:
56:
52:
47:
40:
35:
30:
19:
1182:
1176:
1167:
1161:
1152:
1146:
1137:
1131:
1122:
1116:
1107:
1102:
1093:
1087:
1079:
1074:
1065:
1060:
1052:
1047:
1038:
1032:
1023:
967:
920:
912:
909:
905:
894:
884:
878:
871:
868:
852:
840:
835:
824:
809:, alongside
796:
792:Lord Russell
785:
759:
748:
724:
708:Upper Canada
704:Lord Glenelg
693:
680:
658:
655:Lower Canada
644:
617:
609:Upper Canada
601:
581:
573:
562:
558:Upper Canada
552:
547:
527:Lower Canada
508:
500:
489:
482:
475:
459:Upper Canada
456:
429:
409:Lower Canada
404:
403:
389:Battles/wars
298:(1865-02-25)
246:Succeeded by
215:
198:Succeeded by
190:
169:
148:
144:Succeeded by
133:
117:
113:Succeeded by
102:
86:
82:Succeeded by
71:
29:
1208:1865 deaths
1203:1787 births
1166:J.O. Côté,
1151:J.O. Côté,
1121:J.O. Côté,
901:John Abbott
799:acclamation
716:Lord Durham
565:War of 1812
452:Lord Durham
413:Canada East
393:War of 1812
349:Businessman
321: 1809
232:Preceded by
186:Preceded by
1197:Categories
927:References
535:XY Company
505:Early life
359:Allegiance
346:Occupation
280:Sidehead,
274:1787-08-13
1180:Cornell,
1135:Cornell,
881:Corn Laws
597:fur trade
593:Athabaska
551:marriage
539:fur trade
425:fur trade
338:Residence
313:Spouse(s)
288:, England
220:1844–1848
216:In office
170:In office
134:In office
103:In office
76:1830–1838
72:In office
1170:, p. 47.
917:See also
815:Kingston
807:Montreal
511:Weardale
471:Kingston
467:Montreal
442:and the
421:Montreal
341:Montreal
330:Children
303:Montreal
282:Weardale
161:Montreal
893:in the
801:to the
757:. The
749:In his
605:Toronto
519:England
372:Britain
523:London
417:Quebec
369:
333:4 sons
675:and
531:Sorel
415:(now
411:and
293:Died
268:Born
159:for
1199::
980:^
966:.
935:^
850:.
822:.
714:,
702:,
642:.
607:,
571:.
560:.
545:.
517:,
513:,
427:.
318:c.
305:,
284:,
974:.
323:)
276:)
272:(
36:.
20:)
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