George Benjamin (Orangeman)
Encyclopedia
George Benjamin born Moses Cohen, was an Orangeman and political figure in Upper Canada
.
, England
, he worked for a time as a journalist
before emigrating to the United States
. In 1834, he arrived in Belleville
, Upper Canada, where he established a Tory
newspaper, named The Belleville Intelligencer.
from 1847 to 1862.
Though he was Jewish; in 1836 he became grand master in British North America
for the Orange Order, replacing Ogle Robert Gowan
. At this time, the Orange Order had a strong voice in Upper Canada. Gowan's attempt to regain control of the Order in 1853 led to a split in the organization which was only healed in 1856 when both he and Benjamin withdrew from the leadership.
Benjamin had many political enemies, he was the subject of a cruel caricature in Susanna Moodie's
1843 short story "Richard Redpath".
in the Legislative Assembly
, becoming the first Jew elected to a Canadian parliament. He was re-elected in 1857.
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...
.
Background and early career
Born in SussexSussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he worked for a time as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
before emigrating to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1834, he arrived in Belleville
Belleville, Ontario
Belleville is a city located at the mouth of the Moira River on the Bay of Quinte in Southern Ontario, Canada, in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. It is the seat of Hastings County, but is politically independent of it. and the centre of the Bay of Quinte Region...
, Upper Canada, where he established a Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
newspaper, named The Belleville Intelligencer.
Orange Order activities
He became a Captain in the local militia and a member of the Orange Order in later years. He helped finance the building of a plank road between Belleville and Camden. He served as warden for Hastings CountyHastings County, Ontario
Hastings County is located in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is The Cheese Capital of Canada. Geographically, it is located on the border of Eastern Ontario and Central Ontario. The population was 125,915 in 2001 and grew to 130,474 in the 2006 Canada Census...
from 1847 to 1862.
Though he was Jewish; in 1836 he became grand master in British North America
British North America
British North America is a historical term. It consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary War and the recognition of American independence in 1783.At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 the British...
for the Orange Order, replacing Ogle Robert Gowan
Ogle Robert Gowan
Ogle Robert Gowan was a farmer, Orangeman, journalist and political figure in Upper Canada and Canada West....
. At this time, the Orange Order had a strong voice in Upper Canada. Gowan's attempt to regain control of the Order in 1853 led to a split in the organization which was only healed in 1856 when both he and Benjamin withdrew from the leadership.
Benjamin had many political enemies, he was the subject of a cruel caricature in Susanna Moodie's
Susanna Moodie
Susanna Moodie, born Strickland , was an English-born Canadian author who wrote about her experiences as a settler in Canada, which was a British colony at the time.-Biography:...
1843 short story "Richard Redpath".
Elected to Parliament
In an 1856 by-election, he was elected to represent North HastingsHastings County, Ontario
Hastings County is located in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is The Cheese Capital of Canada. Geographically, it is located on the border of Eastern Ontario and Central Ontario. The population was 125,915 in 2001 and grew to 130,474 in the 2006 Canada Census...
in the Legislative Assembly
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...
, becoming the first Jew elected to a Canadian parliament. He was re-elected in 1857.