James Lesslie (publisher)
Encyclopedia
James Lesslie was an Ontario
businessman and publisher.
He was born in Dundee, Scotland in 1802, the son of a bookseller, and came to Kingston
, Upper Canada
with a brother and sister in 1822 as part of a plan to relocate the family business to Canada. Lesslie and Sons operated stores in York (later Toronto
), Kingston and Dundas
. In 1826, James took over the operation of the York store. The stores expanded from books and stationery to include pharmaceutical products. In 1834, Lesslie was elected to the first city council for the city of Toronto.
He supported William Lyon Mackenzie
and the Reformers
. In 1835, he helped establish the Bank of the People
, serving as general manager and later president after John Rolph. Although he appears to have taken no part in the Upper Canada Rebellion
, he was arrested in December 1837 but released two weeks later. Disenchanted, he became part of a plan by a number of Reformers to relocate to Iowa
. After hearing of possible changes following Lord Durham
's assignment as governor general, Lesslie decided to remain in Upper Canada.
In 1842, he took over the operation of the Toronto Examiner from Francis Hincks
. After George Brown
established The Globe
in 1844, the Examiner began to take a more radical stance, later aligning itself with the Clear Grits
. The paper lobbied for the abolition of the clergy reserves and the separation of church and state. In 1855, after a number of competing newspapers had been established, Lesslie sold the Examiner to George Brown.
Lesslie sold off his business interests around the same time. He served several terms as school trustee and also served as a justice of the peace.
He died in the village of Eglinton, now part of Toronto, in 1885.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
businessman and publisher.
He was born in Dundee, Scotland in 1802, the son of a bookseller, and came to 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...
, Upper Canada
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...
with a brother and sister in 1822 as part of a plan to relocate the family business to Canada. Lesslie and Sons operated stores in York (later 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...
), Kingston and Dundas
Dundas, Ontario
Dundas is a formerly independent town and now constituent community in the city of Hamilton in Ontario, Canada. It's nickname is the Valley Town. The population has been stable for decades at about twenty thousand, largely because it has not annexed rural land from the protected Dundas Valley...
. In 1826, James took over the operation of the York store. The stores expanded from books and stationery to include pharmaceutical products. In 1834, Lesslie was elected to the first city council for the city of Toronto.
He supported 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...
and the Reformers
Reform Party (pre-Confederation)
The Reform movement, sometimes referred to as the Reform Party, began in the 1830s as the movement in the English speaking parts of British North America . It agitated for responsible government....
. In 1835, he helped establish the Bank of the People
Bank of the People
The Bank of the People was created from the defection of investors from Farmer's Bank in 1835. Sir Francis Hincks, head cashier at the Farmer's Bank, became cashier at the new bank. A “Provincial Loan Office” in which farmers could borrow small sums guaranteed by their land holdings became the...
, serving as general manager and later president after John Rolph. Although he appears to have taken no part in the Upper Canada Rebellion
Upper 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:...
, he was arrested in December 1837 but released two weeks later. Disenchanted, he became part of a plan by a number of Reformers to relocate to Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. After hearing of possible changes following Lord Durham
John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham
John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham GCB, PC , also known as "Radical Jack" and commonly referred to in history texts simply as Lord Durham, was a British Whig statesman, colonial administrator, Governor General and high commissioner of British North America...
's assignment as governor general, Lesslie decided to remain in Upper Canada.
In 1842, he took over the operation of the Toronto Examiner from Francis Hincks
Francis Hincks
Sir Francis Hincks, KCMG, PC was a Canadian politician.Born in Cork, Ireland, he was the son of Thomas Dix Hincks an orientalist, naturalist and Presbyterian minister and the brother of Edward Hincks orientalist, naturalist and clergyman.He moved to York in 1832 and set up an importing business...
. After George Brown
George Brown (Canadian politician)
George Brown was a Scottish-born Canadian journalist, politician and one of the Fathers of Confederation...
established The Globe
The Globe (Toronto newspaper)
The Globe was a newspaper in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, founded in 1844 by George Brown as a Reform voice. It merged with The Mail and Empire in 1936 to form The Globe and Mail.-History:...
in 1844, the Examiner began to take a more radical stance, later aligning itself with the Clear Grits
Clear Grits
Clear Grits were reformers in the Province of Upper Canada, a British colony that is now the Province of Ontario, Canada. Their support was concentrated among southwestern Ontario farmers, who were frustrated and disillusioned by the 1849 Reform government of Robert Baldwin and Louis-Hippolyte...
. The paper lobbied for the abolition of the clergy reserves and the separation of church and state. In 1855, after a number of competing newspapers had been established, Lesslie sold the Examiner to George Brown.
Lesslie sold off his business interests around the same time. He served several terms as school trustee and also served as a justice of the peace.
He died in the village of Eglinton, now part of Toronto, in 1885.