David Thompson (Canada West politician)
Encyclopedia
David Thompson was an entrepreneur and a political figure in Canada West. He represented Haldimand
in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
from 1841 to 1851 as a Reformer.
He served as an officer in the militia during the War of 1812
and was a contractor during the construction of the first Welland Canal
. Thompson built a number of mills on the Grand River
which led to the establishment of the town of Indiana
. He cleared land and built his home on what would later be known as the Ruthven Estate, now a National Historic Site of Canada. With William Hamilton Merritt
, Thompson was a promoter of the Grand River Navigation Company, an enterprise which transformed the Grand River into a navigable waterway for commercial activity between Brantford and Lake Erie. Thompson died in office in 1851.
His son David represented Haldimand in the assembly for the Province of Canada and the Canadian House of Commons.
Haldimand County, Ontario
Haldimand is a rural city-status single-tier municipality on the Niagara Peninsula in Southern Ontario, Canada, on the north shore of Lake Erie, and on the Grand River. Municipal offices are located in Cayuga....
in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house of the legislature for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the...
from 1841 to 1851 as a Reformer.
He served as an officer in the militia 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...
and was a contractor during the construction of the first Welland Canal
First Welland Canal
The Welland Canal has gone through many incarnations in its history. Today, five distinct canal-construction efforts are recognized. The retronym First Welland Canal is applied to the original canal, constructed from 1824 to 1829 and 1831 to 1833....
. Thompson built a number of mills on the Grand River
Grand River (Ontario)
The Grand River is a large river in southwestern Ontario, Canada. From its source, it flows south through Grand Valley, Fergus, Elora, Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Paris, Brantford, Caledonia, and Cayuga before emptying into the north shore of Lake Erie south of Dunnville at Port Maitland...
which led to the establishment of the town of Indiana
Indiana, Ontario
Indiana is an old village site—a ghost town -- now within the precincts of the Ruthven Park National Historic Site, 1 km north of Cayuga, in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada. The site was also referred to as "Deans" as late as 1940-1951, when it was marked on a map published by C. Tarling & Co...
. He cleared land and built his home on what would later be known as the Ruthven Estate, now a National Historic Site of Canada. With William Hamilton Merritt
William Hamilton Merritt
William Hamilton Merritt was an influential figure in the Niagara Peninsula of Upper Canada in early 19th century and one of the fathers of the Welland Canal....
, Thompson was a promoter of the Grand River Navigation Company, an enterprise which transformed the Grand River into a navigable waterway for commercial activity between Brantford and Lake Erie. Thompson died in office in 1851.
His son David represented Haldimand in the assembly for the Province of Canada and the Canadian House of Commons.