Archibald Norman McLeod
Encyclopedia
Archibald Norman McLeod was a merchant and political figure in Lower Canada
. He represented Montreal West in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
from 1810 to 1814.
He entered the North West Company
as a clerk, probably through the interest of one of the partners, Alexander McLeod, some time before 1793 , and became a partner in the NWC in 1796 . He was stationed in the Lower Fort des Prairies department in 1794-5 , and in 1800-1 he was in charge of the Swan River district, wintering at Fort Alexandria, where he kept a journal that survives . From 1802 to 1808, he was working in the Athabaska district. He was named a justice of the peace
for the Western Territories in 1809 and then for Montreal district in 1810. McLeod was an officer in the militia and served during the War of 1812
. He did not run for reelection to the assembly in 1814. McLeod was one of the instigators of the Battle of Seven Oaks
. After the merger of the North West Company with the Hudson's Bay Company, he moved to Scotland
, settling in Aberdeenshire
. During his time in the western territories, he had married a native woman. McLeod later served as master of the barracks at Belfast
until around 1838. He was dead by 1845, when his widow's death is recorded.
McLeod Lake
in British Columbia was named in his honour.
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 represented Montreal West in 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...
from 1810 to 1814.
He entered the North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
as a clerk, probably through the interest of one of the partners, Alexander McLeod, some time before 1793 , and became a partner in the NWC in 1796 . He was stationed in the Lower Fort des Prairies department in 1794-5 , and in 1800-1 he was in charge of the Swan River district, wintering at Fort Alexandria, where he kept a journal that survives . From 1802 to 1808, he was working in the Athabaska district. He was 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 the Western Territories in 1809 and then for Montreal district in 1810. McLeod was an officer in the militia and served 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...
. He did not run for reelection to the assembly in 1814. McLeod was one of the instigators of the Battle of Seven Oaks
Battle of Seven Oaks (1816)
The Battle of Seven Oaks took place on June 19, 1816, during the long dispute between the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company, rival fur-trading companies in western Canada.-Background:Miles Macdonell had issued the Pemmican Proclamation...
. After the merger of the North West Company with the Hudson's Bay Company, he moved to 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...
, settling in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
. During his time in the western territories, he had married a native woman. McLeod later served as master of the barracks at Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
until around 1838. He was dead by 1845, when his widow's death is recorded.
McLeod Lake
McLeod Lake, British Columbia
McLeod Lake is an unincorporated community located on Highway 97 in northern British Columbia, Canada, north of Prince George. It is notable for being the first continuously inhabited European settlement established west of the Rocky Mountains in present-day Canada...
in British Columbia was named in his honour.