Charles Connell
Encyclopedia
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician, now remembered mainly for placing his image on a 5-cent postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
. Born in the then-British colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
to a family of Loyalists
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
who had fled the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, he entered politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
in 1846, serving in the colony's Legislative Assembly and House of Assembly.
On August 5, 1835, he married Anne Fisher, sister of Lewis P. Fisher
Lewis P. Fisher
Lewis Peter Fisher wasa Canadian politician, elected Woodstock, New Brunswick's first mayor in 1856, when the Town of Woodstock was incorporated. He held this position through twenty-four consecutive annual elections....
. They had seven children, one of whom died young. She died on October 5, 1895 and is buried in the Old Methodist Cemetery in Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock is a Canadian town in Carleton County, New Brunswick located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Meduxnekeag River, 92 km west of Fredericton and close to the Canada – United States border and Houlton, Maine.- History :Woodstock was settled by Loyalists...
. His son George Heber
George Heber Connell
George Heber Connell was a merchant and political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. He represented Carleton in the Canadian House of Commons from 1878 to 1881 as an Independent member....
went on to serve in the House of Commons.
In 1858, Connell was appointed Postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
General of the colony, at a time when increasing trade with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was forcing the British colonies to reconsider their currencies and institute a decimal system that would be more familiar to their American neighbors. New Brunswick adopted a decimal currency in 1859, and in the following year, Connell issued the first series of postage stamps in the new denomination. While few people had problems with the new currency, they were outraged that Connell chose to depict himself on the 5-cent stamp, instead of Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
. In an effort to stem the criticism and charges of extreme arrogance, he offered to buy up all the stamps and burned them publicly on the front lawn of his house. He also resigned his office as postmaster general. It is unknown how many stamps survived, but they number no more than a few dozen and are now extremely rare. Some counterfeits of the stamp exist also.
Despite the episode, Connell continued to serve in the colonial legislature up until 1867. A member of the Executive Council of New Brunswick
Executive Council of New Brunswick
The Executive Council of New Brunswick is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
, he served as Surveyor General
Department of Natural Resources (New Brunswick)
The Department of Natural Resources is a department in the Government of New Brunswick, Canada. It is responsible for management of the Province's forests including timber utilization, trail management, insect and disease protection including spruce budworm and gypsy moth, fire protection,...
from July 10, 1866 to July 17, 1867.
An ardent supporter of Canadian Confederation, Connell was elected as a Member of Parliament representing the New Brunswick electoral district
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Carleton
Carleton (New Brunswick electoral district)
Carleton was a federal electoral district in New Brunswick, Canada that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1917. It was created in 1867 as part of the British North America Act, and was abolished in 1914 when it was merged into Victoria—Carleton...
in the first two Canadian parliaments.
From 1865 to 1866, he published his own newspaper, The Union.
He died at his house on June 28, 1873.
His house, known as the Charles Connell House
Charles Connell House
The Charles Connell House is the present name of the residence of the Hon. Charles Connell . It is located at 128 Connell Street, Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada. The house was designated a National Historic Sites of Canada in 1975.- History :...
is located in Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock is a Canadian town in Carleton County, New Brunswick located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Meduxnekeag River, 92 km west of Fredericton and close to the Canada – United States border and Houlton, Maine.- History :Woodstock was settled by Loyalists...
, and is now a museum run by the Carleton County Historical Society
Carleton County Historical Society
The Carleton County Historical Society , located in southwest New Brunswick, Canada was established in 1960.It maintains an extensive collection of historical artifacts and archival material...
.
External links
- Charles Connell
- Photo of his Gravestone
- Genealogical Data
- Our Maritime Ties detailed genealogical information
