George Lyon (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
George Lyon was a captain
in the British Army
and a Canadian
businessman and politician.
He was born in Inverurie
, Scotland
in 1790. In 1806 he was commissioned Ensign
in the 40th Foot and in 1809, as a Lieutenant
, he transferred to the 100th Foot. In November 1810, he went to Canada with his regiment. He served with them in the War of 1812
. After the regiment disbanded in 1818, he was given a land grant of 500 acres (2 km²) and settled in Richmond, Ontario
. He acquired additional lands when he built a grist mill and sawmill
there. He also built a distillery and opened a store.
He became a major in the local militia in 1843. He represented the County of Carleton
in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
from 1833 to 1834 and in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
from 1846 to 1847.
He died in Richmond in 1851.
His sons included:
His younger brother, Robert Lyon, died in a duel in Perth, Ontario
in 1833.
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and a Canadian
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...
businessman and politician.
He was born in Inverurie
Inverurie
Inverurie is a Royal Burgh and town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately north west of Aberdeen on the A96 road and is served by Inverurie railway station on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1790. In 1806 he was commissioned Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the 40th Foot and in 1809, as a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, he transferred to the 100th Foot. In November 1810, he went to Canada with his regiment. He served with them in 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...
. After the regiment disbanded in 1818, he was given a land grant of 500 acres (2 km²) and settled in Richmond, Ontario
Richmond, Ontario
Richmond is a Canadian village. Founded in 1818, it spans the Jock River, a tributary of the Rideau River. Like many communities in eastern Ontario, Richmond houses several unique populations. Some residents have historic and economic roots in the immediate area. Richmond operates as a small core...
. He acquired additional lands when he built a grist mill and sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
there. He also built a distillery and opened a store.
He became a major in the local militia in 1843. He represented the County of Carleton
Carleton (Ontario electoral district)
Carleton was a federal and provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1968, and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1867 to 1987...
in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
from 1833 to 1834 and 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 1846 to 1847.
He died in Richmond in 1851.
His sons included:
- G. B. Lyon-Fellowes, a lawyer, mayor of OttawaOttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and a member of the Legislative Assembly for the United Canadas - Robert LyonRobert Lyon (politician)Robert Lyon was a judge and politician in the County of Carleton in eastern Ontario. He was mayor of Ottawa in 1867 and a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1867 to 1871....
, a lawyer, judge, mayor of Ottawa and member of the Legislative Assembly of OntarioLegislative Assembly of OntarioThe Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada... - William Radenhurst Richmond LyonWilliam Radenhurst Richmond LyonWilliam Radenhurst Richmond Lyon was the first reeve of Richmond, Ontario.He was born in Richmond, Ontario, the son of George Lyon and the first male child born in the village. He was elected reeve in 1850.He died in 1854 while still in office....
, the first reeve of Richmond
His younger brother, Robert Lyon, died in a duel in Perth, Ontario
Perth, Ontario
Perth is a town in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada . It is located on the Tay River, 83 km southwest of Ottawa, and is the seat of Lanark County.-History:...
in 1833.