Franklin Jackes
Encyclopedia
Franklin Jackes was an early Torontonian politician and revolutionary.
, England, the third child of William Jackes and Catharine Palmer. He had a twin brother who was named Napoleon, but who died in infancy. At the age of eight Franklin Jackes moved with his family to New York City
in 1812, however he returned to Europe to serve in the army of the Duke of Wellington
as an apprentice baker during the Battle of Waterloo
. He then returned to New York City and subsequently moved to Toronto
with his family in 1817. He then became a baker, known in particular for his high-quality horse cakes which were sold for half a penny each. In 1825, while walking along the harbour of Toronto he reportedly met a man asking to sell his fleet of flour for five pounds, offering it at such a low price as he believed that it had sunk in Lake Ontario
due to the fact that it was quite late to arrive in Toronto. Franklin Jackes agreed to buy his wares, and the fleet arrived the same afternoon, making him a very wealthy man. He also went on to buy a house known as Castlefield from a prominent Torontonian lawyer and politician named James Hervey Prive in the spring of 1842 for the price of 985 Spanish dollars, as well as other large amounts of land in modern-day Toronto. Franklin Jackes married Catherine Gibson (February 28, 1808 – November 18, 1886) at Niagara-on-the-Lake
on November 11, 1825 at the age of 19. They remained married until his death and had eleven children, one of whom was Albert G. Jackes
, a doctor in the army of William McDougall
and member of the Council of Keewatin
, in modern-day Manitoba
.
Franklin Jackes was a good friend of James Hervey Price, and even named one of his children Price in his honour. His wife Catherine Jackes also adopted two more children after her husband's death.
of 1837, and was a supporter and personal friend of William Lyon Mackenzie
. He was elected into Toronto’s first city council in 1834 to represent St. David's Ward, and in that year he was the man who moved to have Mackenzie elected as the first mayor of Toronto by the council. He was a member of the Committee of 1000 which asked Sir John Colborne to dissolve parliament in 1831, and was also commissioned as a justice of the peace
in 1837, after the rebellion in which he took part. He was also a member of the Toronto Agricultural Committee, and was the first warden of the County of York for two terms from 1850–1851, as well as the first reeve of the township of York.
and died soon after, leaving his second term as the warden of York unfinished.
Early life
Franklin Jackes was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England, the third child of William Jackes and Catharine Palmer. He had a twin brother who was named Napoleon, but who died in infancy. At the age of eight Franklin Jackes moved with his family to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1812, however he returned to Europe to serve in the army of the Duke of Wellington
Duke of Wellington
The Dukedom of Wellington, derived from Wellington in Somerset, is a hereditary title in the senior rank of the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first holder of the title was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington , the noted Irish-born career British Army officer and statesman, and...
as an apprentice baker during the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
. He then returned to New York City and subsequently 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...
with his family in 1817. He then became a baker, known in particular for his high-quality horse cakes which were sold for half a penny each. In 1825, while walking along the harbour of Toronto he reportedly met a man asking to sell his fleet of flour for five pounds, offering it at such a low price as he believed that it had sunk in Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
due to the fact that it was quite late to arrive in Toronto. Franklin Jackes agreed to buy his wares, and the fleet arrived the same afternoon, making him a very wealthy man. He also went on to buy a house known as Castlefield from a prominent Torontonian lawyer and politician named James Hervey Prive in the spring of 1842 for the price of 985 Spanish dollars, as well as other large amounts of land in modern-day Toronto. Franklin Jackes married Catherine Gibson (February 28, 1808 – November 18, 1886) at Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a Canadian town located in Southern Ontario where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario in the Niagara Region of the southern part of the province of Ontario. It is located across the Niagara river from Youngstown, New York, USA...
on November 11, 1825 at the age of 19. They remained married until his death and had eleven children, one of whom was Albert G. Jackes
Albert G. Jackes
Albert G. Jackes was an early Canadian politician and medical doctor. Jackes served on the short lived Council of Keewatin.-Early life:...
, a doctor in the army of William McDougall
William McDougall
William McDougall may refer to:*William McDougall , Canadian lawyer and politician from Ontario*William McDougall , Canadian shipbuilder and politician from Nova Scotia...
and member of the Council of Keewatin
Council of Keewatin
The Council of Keewatin was an unelected legislative body and territorial government for the now-defunct District of Keewatin in Canada. The District of Keewatin was created by the passage of the Keewatin Act on April 12, 1876 from a portion of Canada's North West Territories...
, in modern-day Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
.
Franklin Jackes was a good friend of James Hervey Price, and even named one of his children Price in his honour. His wife Catherine Jackes also adopted two more children after her husband's death.
Political career
Franklin Jackes was a devout Reformer before and during the Upper Canada RebellionUpper Canada Rebellion
The Upper Canada Rebellion was, along with the Lower Canada Rebellion in Lower Canada, a rebellion against the British colonial government in 1837 and 1838. Collectively they are also known as the Rebellions of 1837.-Issues:...
of 1837, and was a supporter and personal friend of William Lyon Mackenzie
William Lyon Mackenzie
William Lyon Mackenzie was a Scottish born American and Canadian journalist, politician, and rebellion leader. He served as the first mayor of Toronto, Upper Canada and was an important leader during the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion.-Background and early years in Scotland, 1795–1820:Mackenzie was...
. He was elected into Toronto’s first city council in 1834 to represent St. David's Ward, and in that year he was the man who moved to have Mackenzie elected as the first mayor of Toronto by the council. He was a member of the Committee of 1000 which asked Sir John Colborne to dissolve parliament in 1831, and was also commissioned as 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...
in 1837, after the rebellion in which he took part. He was also a member of the Toronto Agricultural Committee, and was the first warden of the County of York for two terms from 1850–1851, as well as the first reeve of the township of York.
Death
At the age of 48, Franklin Jackes suddenly contracted smallpoxSmallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
and died soon after, leaving his second term as the warden of York unfinished.