Edward William Thomson
Encyclopedia
Edward William Thomson was a farmer and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Kingston
in 1794 and settled in Scarborough Township
in 1808. He served with the York militia during the War of 1812
and the Rebellions of 1837
, eventually commanding the 5th militia district in Canada West. He was involved in building locks on the Rideau Canal
and worked as a contractor on the Welland Canal
in the 1840s. In 1833, he was appointed justice of the peace in the Home District. In 1836, he was elected to the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada
in the 2nd riding of York
. He was the first president of the provincial Agricultural Association and the York County Agricultural Society.
He died in York Township in 1865.
His older brother Hugh Christopher Thomson
was also a member of the legislative assembly.
His grandson, Edward William Thomson
, was a Canadian journalist and writer.
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...
.
He was born in Kingston
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 1794 and settled in Scarborough Township
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
in 1808. He served with the York 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 the Rebellions of 1837
Rebellions of 1837
The Rebellions of 1837 were a pair of Canadian armed uprisings that occurred in 1837 and 1838 in response to frustrations in political reform. A key shared goal was the allowance of responsible government, which was eventually achieved in the incident's aftermath.-Rebellions:The rebellions started...
, eventually commanding the 5th militia district in Canada West. He was involved in building locks on the Rideau Canal
Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal , also known as the Rideau Waterway, connects the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on the Ottawa River to the city of Kingston, Ontario on Lake Ontario. The canal was opened in 1832 as a precaution in case of war with the United States and is still in use today, with most of its...
and worked as a contractor on the Welland Canal
Welland Canal
The Welland Canal is a ship canal in Canada that extends from Port Weller, Ontario, on Lake Ontario, to Port Colborne, Ontario, on Lake Erie. As a part of the St...
in the 1840s. In 1833, he was appointed justice of the peace in the Home District. In 1836, he was elected to the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada
13th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 13th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 8 November 1836. Elections in Upper Canada had been held 20 June 1836. All sessions were held at Toronto.The House of Assembly had five sessions 8 November 1836 to 10 February 1840....
in the 2nd riding of York
York County, Ontario
York County is a historic county in Upper Canada, Canada West, and the Canadian province of Ontario.York County was created in 1792 and was part of the jurisdiction of Home District of Upper Canada...
. He was the first president of the provincial Agricultural Association and the York County Agricultural Society.
He died in York Township in 1865.
His older brother Hugh Christopher Thomson
Hugh Christopher Thomson
Hugh Christopher Thomson was a businessman, newspaper publisher and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Kingston in Upper Canada in 1791, the son of a Scottish immigrant who served with Joseph Brant during the American Revolution...
was also a member of the legislative assembly.
His grandson, Edward William Thomson
Edward William Thomson (writer)
Edward William Thomson was a Canadian journalist and writer.He was born in Peel County, Ontario, the grandson of Edward William Thomson, a member of the York militia who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada....
, was a Canadian journalist and writer.