Alexander Auldjo
Encyclopedia
Alexander Auldjo was a businessman and political figure
in Lower Canada
.
He was born in Aberdeen
, Scotland
in 1758 and came to Montreal
around 1778. He became involved in the fur trade
and, later, in the export of wheat and the importing of goods from England
. Auldjo also owned property at Montreal and in Upper Canada
. In 1796, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
for Montreal West. He was also named a justice of the peace
for Montreal district in 1796 and became a warden of Trinity House
of Quebec in 1800. He served in the local militia and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel
during the War of 1812
. In 1804, He married Eweretta Jane, daughter of Thomas Richardson, merchant in Portsoy, Banffshire and his second wife Helen Phyn, a sister of James Phyn. They were married at Portsoy January 21 1804, where Auldjo is designed as merchant in Canada. Eweretta Richardson was the half sister of John Richardson
. Auldjo was agent for the Phoenix Assurance Company of London in Upper and Lower Canada and later for the Pelican Life Assurance Company. He returned to England in 1813. In 1817, he became a shareholder in the Bank of Montreal
.
He died at London
in 1821.
His nephew George Auldjo later became a Montreal merchant and a partner in the company formed by his uncle.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in 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...
.
He was born in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, 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 1758 and came 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...
around 1778. He became involved 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...
and, later, in the export of wheat and the importing of goods from 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...
. Auldjo also owned property at Montreal and in Upper Canada
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...
. In 1796, 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 Montreal West. He was also named a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Montreal district in 1796 and became a warden of Trinity House
Trinity House
The Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strond is the official General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales and other British territorial waters...
of Quebec in 1800. He served in the local militia and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
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 1804, He married Eweretta Jane, daughter of Thomas Richardson, merchant in Portsoy, Banffshire and his second wife Helen Phyn, a sister of James Phyn. They were married at Portsoy January 21 1804, where Auldjo is designed as merchant in Canada. Eweretta Richardson was the half sister of John Richardson
John Richardson (businessman)
John Richardson, , was born in Scotland, the son of Thomas Richardson, merchant in Portsoy and his first wife Helen Stewart of Towiemore and by 1774 was working for Phyn & Ellice, a Scottish fur trading company out of Schenectady, New York...
. Auldjo was agent for the Phoenix Assurance Company of London in Upper and Lower Canada and later for the Pelican Life Assurance Company. He returned to England in 1813. In 1817, he became a shareholder in the Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
.
He died at 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...
in 1821.
His nephew George Auldjo later became a Montreal merchant and a partner in the company formed by his uncle.