James Crooks
Encyclopedia
James Crooks was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada
and Canada West.
He was born in Kilmarnock
, Scotland
in 1778 and came to Fort Niagara
in 1791 where his half-brother, Francis, was operating as a merchant. In 1795, Francis, James and his brother William
moved to Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake
). The business expanded into supplying goods to the military, shipping, the production of beer and spirits and potash
production. In 1811, they built their own schooner
, the Lord Nelson.
He served as a captain in the local militia. During the War of 1812
, his property was destroyed and the schooner was taken over by the Americans
and sank during a storm. He was never fully compensated for these losses. He fought at the Battle of Queenston Heights
and later served on the jury at the Bloody Assize
of 1814. In 1814, he relocated to West Flamborough Township
, which was located further from the border with the United States, and set up a small industrial centre there.
He became a justice of the peace and was elected to the 8th Parliament of Upper Canada
representing Halton
in 1820. In 1822, he became a director of the Bank of Upper Canada
. He was also part of a committee tasked with improving inland navigation. By this time, he was again operating a number of ships transporting goods along the lower Great Lakes
. In 1823, with William Morris
, he lobbied for the recognition of the Church of Scotland
as an official state church of Upper Canada. In 1825, he established the first paper mill
in the province and in the next decade built mills on the Trent
(at Crooks' Rapids
) and Speed River
s. In 1830, he was re-elected as a representative for Halton and, in 1831, he was appointed to the Legislative Council
for the province. As a moderate Tory, he opposed the Family Compact
, but also opposed responsible government
. He supported union with Lower Canada
, although he opposed the use of French
in the legislature, and he was re-appointed to the Legislative Council
for the united province. In November 1843, he was one of a group of members who walked out of the council to protest the movement of the capital from Kingston
to Montreal
.
He died on his estate in West Flamborough Township in 1860.
His son, Adam Crooks, went on to serve in the Ontario legislature, becoming attorney general and provincial treasurer.
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...
and Canada West.
He was born in Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The River Irvine runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'...
, 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 1778 and came to Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built to protect the interests of New France in North America. It is located near Youngstown, New York, on the eastern bank of the Niagara River at its mouth, on Lake Ontario.-Origin:...
in 1791 where his half-brother, Francis, was operating as a merchant. In 1795, Francis, James and his brother William
William Crooks (Canadian politician)
William Crooks was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland in 1776. In 1792, he travelled to Fort Niagara to join his brother James Crooks who was a merchant there; in 1795, the business was moved to Newark . With his brother, he was involved in...
moved to Newark (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...
). The business expanded into supplying goods to the military, shipping, the production of beer and spirits and potash
Potash
Potash is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. In some rare cases, potash can be formed with traces of organic materials such as plant remains, and this was the major historical source for it before the industrial era...
production. In 1811, they built their own schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
, the Lord Nelson.
He served as a captain in the local 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...
, his property was destroyed and the schooner was taken over by the Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and sank during a storm. He was never fully compensated for these losses. He fought at the Battle of Queenston Heights
Battle of Queenston Heights
The Battle of Queenston Heights was the first major battle in the War of 1812 and resulted in a British victory. It took place on 13 October 1812, near Queenston, in the present-day province of Ontario...
and later served on the jury at the Bloody Assize
Bloody Assize (1814)
The Bloody Assize in Upper Canada was a series of trials held at Ancaster during the War of 1812.During the war, a number of settlers from the Niagara and London Districts had taken up arms against their neighbours. Many later fled to the United States....
of 1814. In 1814, he relocated to West Flamborough Township
Flamborough, Ontario
Flamborough is a former town near, and a current community in, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada....
, which was located further from the border with the United States, and set up a small industrial centre there.
He became a justice of the peace and was elected to the 8th Parliament of Upper Canada
8th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 8th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 31 January 1821. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in July 1820. All sessions were held at York, Upper Canada and sat in the second Parliament Buildings of Upper Canada...
representing Halton
Halton County, Ontario
Halton County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is also one of the oldest counties in Canada.-History:Halton County is named after Major William Mathew Halton who was appointed in 1805 as Secretary to the Upper Canada provincial Lieutenant-Governor Sir Francis...
in 1820. In 1822, he became a director of the Bank of Upper Canada
Bank of Upper Canada
The Bank of Upper Canada was a Canadian bank established in 1821 under a Charter granted by the colony of Upper Canada in 1819. The incorporators were William Allan, Robert C. Horne, John Scarlett, Francis Jackson, William W. Baldwin, Alexander Legge, Thomas Ridout, his son Samuel Ridout, D’Arcy...
. He was also part of a committee tasked with improving inland navigation. By this time, he was again operating a number of ships transporting goods along the lower Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
. In 1823, with William Morris
William Morris (Canadian businessman)
William Morris was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Paisley, Scotland in 1786, the son of a Scottish manufacturer. His family came to Upper Canada in 1801, where his father set up an import-export business. The business failed and his father retired to a farm near...
, he lobbied for the recognition of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
as an official state church of Upper Canada. In 1825, he established the first paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
in the province and in the next decade built mills on the Trent
Trent River (Ontario)
The Trent River is a river in southeastern Ontario which flows from Rice Lake to empty into the Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario. This river is part of the Trent-Severn Waterway which leads to Georgian Bay. The river is 90 km long...
(at Crooks' Rapids
Hastings, Ontario
Hastings is an amalgamated village within the municipality of Trent Hills, Northumberland County, in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is on the Trent River, in what is considered to be Ontario's "cottage country"....
) and Speed River
Speed River
The Speed River is a river that flows through Wellington County and the Region of Waterloo in western Ontario, Canada. It flows south from its source near Orton, through Guelph, where it is joined by the Eramosa River, then through the towns of Hespeler and Preston, finally uniting with the Grand...
s. In 1830, he was re-elected as a representative for Halton and, in 1831, he was appointed to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Upper Canada
The Legislative Council of Upper Canada was the upper house governing the province of Upper Canada. Modelled after the British House of Lords, it was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was specified that the council should consist of at least seven members. Members were appointed for...
for the province. As a moderate Tory, he opposed the Family Compact
Family Compact
Fully developed after the War of 1812, the Compact lasted until Upper and Lower Canada were united in 1841. In Lower Canada, its equivalent was the Château Clique. The influence of the Family Compact on the government administration at different levels lasted to the 1880s...
, but also opposed responsible government
Responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
. He supported union with Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
, although he opposed the use of French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
in the legislature, and he was re-appointed to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Council of the Province of Canada was the upper house 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 province of Ontario...
for the united province. In November 1843, he was one of a group of members who walked out of the council to protest the movement of the capital from 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...
to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
He died on his estate in West Flamborough Township in 1860.
His son, Adam Crooks, went on to serve in the Ontario legislature, becoming attorney general and provincial treasurer.