Charles Albert Berczy
Encyclopedia
Charles Albert Berczy was the son of pioneer William Berczy
.
.
In Montreal, Charles worked at the British Commissary General as a clerk and later as acting Deputy Assistant Commissary General (1814–1816).
In 1818, he moved back to Upper Canada
and began a business selling tobacco with his brother William Bent Berczy
in Amherstburg
.
for the area in 1826. He moved to Toronto
following his appointment as Post Office Surveyor and Inspector of Toronto (1835–1838), and later as the city's Post Master (1838–1853). Both appointments were the result of his close ties with Sir Francis Bond Head
, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada.
In Toronto, Charles further joined the ranks of the city's business elites. During his time in Toronto, he held such positions as:
Towards the end however, Charles Albert Berczy's life began to unravel and as a result, he decided to end his own life in 1858.
William Berczy
William Berczy was a German pioneer and painter....
.
Early years
Charles Albert was born in Newark, Upper Canada in 1794 to William and his wife Jeanne-Charlotte Allamand. Charles moved with his family to Montreal after as brief stay in York, Upper CanadaYork, Upper Canada
York was the name of Old Toronto between 1793 and 1834. It was the second capital of Upper Canada.- History :The town was established in 1793 by Governor John Graves Simcoe, with a new 'Fort York' on the site of the last French 'Fort Toronto'...
.
In Montreal, Charles worked at the British Commissary General as a clerk and later as acting Deputy Assistant Commissary General (1814–1816).
In 1818, he moved back to 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...
and began a business selling tobacco with his brother William Bent Berczy
William Bent Berczy
William Bent Berczy was a farmer, painter and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in London England in 1791, the son of William Berczy, and came to York with his family in 1794. He grew up in York, Montreal and Quebec City. He served in the Corps of Canadian Chasseurs during the War of...
in Amherstburg
Amherstburg, Ontario
Amherstburg is a Canadian town near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County, Ontario. It is approximately south of the U.S...
.
Later years
His public life began with his appointment as Justice of the PeaceJustice 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 area in 1826. He moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
following his appointment as Post Office Surveyor and Inspector of Toronto (1835–1838), and later as the city's Post Master (1838–1853). Both appointments were the result of his close ties with Sir Francis Bond Head
Francis Bond Head
Sir Francis Bond Head, 1st Baronet KCH PC , known as "Galloping Head", was Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada during the rebellion of 1837.-Biography:...
, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada.
In Toronto, Charles further joined the ranks of the city's business elites. During his time in Toronto, he held such positions as:
- Director of the Bank of Upper CanadaBank of Upper CanadaThe Bank of Upper Canada was a Canadian bank established in 1821 under a Charter granted by the colony of Upper Canada in 1819. The incorporators were William Allan, Robert C. Horne, John Scarlett, Francis Jackson, William W. Baldwin, Alexander Legge, Thomas Ridout, his son Samuel Ridout, D’Arcy...
(1840–1843) - President of the Toronto Building Society
- Co-Founder and Shareholder of Toronto, Simcoe & Lake Huron Union Railroad (later as Northern Railway of CanadaNorthern Railway of CanadaThe Northern Railway of Canada was a historical Canadian railway located in the province of Ontario. It was eventually acquired by the Grand Trunk Railway, and is therefore a predecessor to the modern Canadian National Railway.- Early history :...
) - Director and President of the Consumer' Gas Light and Water CompanyEnbridgeEnbridge Inc. is a Calgary, Alberta based company focused on three core businesses: crude oil and liquids pipelines, natural gas transportation and distribution, and green energy. The company has approximately 6,000 employees, mostly in Canada and the United States...
(1848–1856)
Personal life
During his stay in Amherstburg, Berczy courted Ann Eliza Finch and married her on June 21, 1828. They had one son and seven daughters.Towards the end however, Charles Albert Berczy's life began to unravel and as a result, he decided to end his own life in 1858.