Andrew Stuart (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Stuart was a lawyer and political figure in Lower Canada
.
He was born at Cataraqui
in 1785, the son of Anglican
priest John Stuart, a United Empire Loyalist, and studied with the Reverend John Strachan
and then at Union College
in New York
. He studied law in Lower Canada, was admitted to the bar in 1807 and set up practice at Quebec City
. He defended Pierre-Stanislas Bédard
, who had been arrested for his involvement with the newspaper Le Canadien
. Henry Black
practiced with Stuart as a partner. Stuart was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
for the Lower Town of Quebec in 1814 and reelected in 1816; he supported the parti canadien
at that time. He was elected to represent the Upper Town of Quebec in April 1820 and continued to represent that riding until his defeat in 1834. Near the end of that period, Stuart became a supporter of the government party. Stuart voted against the Ninety-Two Resolutions
. He was elected again in a by-election held in 1836 and served until the suspension of the constitution following the Lower Canada Rebellion
. In 1838, he was named solicitor general for Lower Canada.
Stuart also served as president of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec
and vice president of the Société pour l’Encouragement des Sciences et des Arts en Canada. With John Charlton Fisher
, he contributed material for Alfred Hawkins's book Hawkins's picture of Quebec; with historical recollections, published at Quebec in 1834.
He died at Quebec City in 1840.
His brother James was also a lawyer and member of the legislative assembly. His nephew George Okill Stuart
later served in the legislative assembly for the Province of Canada and also as a mayor of Quebec City. His son Andrew
became a seigneur and judge.
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 at Cataraqui
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
in 1785, the son of Anglican
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
priest John Stuart, a United Empire Loyalist, and studied with the Reverend John Strachan
John Strachan
John Strachan was an influential figure in Upper Canada and the first Anglican Bishop of Toronto.-Early life:Strachan was the youngest of six children born to a quarry worker in Aberdeen, Scotland. He graduated from King's College, Aberdeen in 1797...
and then at Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He studied law in Lower Canada, was admitted to the bar in 1807 and set up practice at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
. He defended Pierre-Stanislas Bédard
Pierre-Stanislas Bédard
Pierre-Stanislas Bédard was a lawyer, judge, journalist and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Charlesbourg in 1762, descended from French ancestors who had first arrived in New France before 1660. He studied at the Petit Séminaire de Québec, articled in law and was called to the bar...
, who had been arrested for his involvement with the newspaper Le Canadien
Le Canadien
Le Canadien was a French language newspaper published in Lower Canada from November 22, 1806 to March 14, 1810. Its motto was: "Nos institutions, notre langue et nos droits"...
. Henry Black
Henry Black (Quebec judge)
Henry Black was a Quebec lawyer, judge and political figure.He was born in Quebec City in 1798, studied there and was admitted to the bar in 1820. He joined the law practice of Andrew Stuart at Quebec City. In 1836, he was appointed judge in the Court of Vice-Admiralty for the Quebec district,...
practiced with Stuart as a partner. Stuart 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 the Lower Town of Quebec in 1814 and reelected in 1816; he supported the parti canadien
Parti canadien
The Parti canadien or Parti patriote was a political party in what is now Quebec founded by members of the liberal elite of Lower Canada at the beginning of the 19th century...
at that time. He was elected to represent the Upper Town of Quebec in April 1820 and continued to represent that riding until his defeat in 1834. Near the end of that period, Stuart became a supporter of the government party. Stuart voted against the Ninety-Two Resolutions
Ninety-Two Resolutions
The Ninety-Two Resolutions were drafted by Louis-Joseph Papineau and other members of the Parti patriote of Lower Canada in 1834. The resolutions were a long series of demands for political reforms in the British-governed colony....
. He was elected again in a by-election held in 1836 and served until the suspension of the constitution following the Lower Canada Rebellion
Lower Canada Rebellion
The Lower Canada Rebellion , commonly referred to as the Patriots' War by Quebeckers, is the name given to the armed conflict between the rebels of Lower Canada and the British colonial power of that province...
. In 1838, he was named solicitor general for Lower Canada.
Stuart also served as president of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec
Literary and Historical Society of Quebec
-External links:*, managed by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec.*, virtual exhibit on the history of Canadian learned societies.*, virtual library containing all publications from 1824-1924....
and vice president of the Société pour l’Encouragement des Sciences et des Arts en Canada. With John Charlton Fisher
John Charlton Fisher
John Charlton Fisher, Esq., L.L.D. was a Canadian author, journalist, and publisher.Born in Carlisle, England, John Charlton Fisher was a brilliant student and obtained a doctorate in law...
, he contributed material for Alfred Hawkins's book Hawkins's picture of Quebec; with historical recollections, published at Quebec in 1834.
He died at Quebec City in 1840.
His brother James was also a lawyer and member of the legislative assembly. His nephew George Okill Stuart
George Okill Stuart, Jr.
George Okill Stuart was a Quebec lawyer, judge and political figure.He was born in , Upper Canada in 1807, the son of George Okill Stuart and was educated at Kingston and Quebec City. He articled in law with his uncle, James Stuart, and was admitted to the bar in 1830...
later served in the legislative assembly for the Province of Canada and also as a mayor of Quebec City. His son Andrew
Andrew Stuart (seigneur)
Sir Andrew Stuart was a Quebec lawyer, judge, seigneur and businessman.He was born at Quebec City in 1812, the son of Andrew Stuart, and studied at Edward Parkin's school at Chambly. He articled with his uncle Sir James Stuart 1st., Bt. and then with Henry Black, was called to the bar in 1834 and...
became a seigneur and judge.