John Henry Dunn
Encyclopedia
John Henry Dunn was a businessman and political figure in Canada West. He served as Receiver General for Upper Canada
from 1820 to 1841.
He was born on Saint Helena
of English
parents in 1792. In 1820, he was named Receiver General and left for York (later Toronto
). During Dunn's term in this post, an agreement regarding sharing of customs revenues between Upper and Lower Canada
remained unresolved for some time, forcing him borrowing money from private lendors to finance government expenditures. In 1822, he was named to the province's Legislative Council
. Dunn also served as president of the Welland Canal
Company from 1825 to 1833 and helped to raise funds for the project from both public and private sources. In 1836, he was named to the Executive Council of Upper Canada
. However, three weeks later, Dunn resigned with his fellow councillors when lieutenant governor Sir Francis Bond Head
refused to take the advice of the council into account with respect to the governing of the province. He was named Receiver General for the newly-formed Province of Canada
in 1841 and was elected to represent Toronto
in the Legislative Assembly
in the same year. In 1843, he resigned from his post to protest Governor Metcalfe's refusal to consult the Executive Council on patronage appointments. After he was defeated in an attempt to gain reelection in 1844, he returned to England the following year with his family.
He died in London
in 1854.
, l00th and 33rd Regiments, received the Victoria Cross
for having been "the bravest of the brave" for his role in the Charge of the Light Brigade
at Balaclava.
His daughter Louisa Dunn, daughter by his second wife, Sophia Louisa, eldest daughter of Hon. A. N. J. Duchesnay, Seigneur of Beauport, P.Q., married, 1868, Colonel William Henry Rodes Green, C.B., son of the late Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew P. Green, K.C.H., who became a Major-General in 1875, and, in 1886, was created a K. C.S.I. Their daughter, Ethel, married, December 1st, 1896, John Forsyth Burstall, Esquire, of Quebec.
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...
from 1820 to 1841.
He was born on Saint Helena
Saint Helena
Saint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
of English
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...
parents in 1792. In 1820, he was named Receiver General and left for 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...
). During Dunn's term in this post, an agreement regarding sharing of customs revenues between Upper and 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...
remained unresolved for some time, forcing him borrowing money from private lendors to finance government expenditures. In 1822, he was named to the province's 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...
. Dunn also served as president of the Welland Canal
Welland Canal
The Welland Canal is a ship canal in Canada that extends from Port Weller, Ontario, on Lake Ontario, to Port Colborne, Ontario, on Lake Erie. As a part of the St...
Company from 1825 to 1833 and helped to raise funds for the project from both public and private sources. In 1836, he was named to the Executive Council of Upper Canada
Executive Council of Upper Canada
The Executive Council of Upper Canada had a similar function to the Cabinet in England but was not responsible to the Legislative Assembly. Members of the Executive Council were not necessarily members of the Legislative Assembly but were usually members of the Legislative Council. Members were...
. However, three weeks later, Dunn resigned with his fellow councillors when lieutenant governor Sir Francis Bond Head
Francis Bond Head
Sir Francis Bond Head, 1st Baronet KCH PC , known as "Galloping Head", was Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada during the rebellion of 1837.-Biography:...
refused to take the advice of the council into account with respect to the governing of the province. He was named Receiver General for the newly-formed Province of Canada
Province of Canada
The Province of Canada, United Province of Canada, or the United Canadas was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham in the Report on the Affairs of British North America following the Rebellions of...
in 1841 and was elected to represent 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...
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...
in the same year. In 1843, he resigned from his post to protest Governor Metcalfe's refusal to consult the Executive Council on patronage appointments. After he was defeated in an attempt to gain reelection in 1844, he returned to England the following year with his family.
He died in London
London
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...
in 1854.
Family
His son, Lieutenant Alexander Roberts DunnAlexander Roberts Dunn
Alexander Roberts Dunn VC was the first Canadian awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, l00th and 33rd Regiments, received the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for having been "the bravest of the brave" for his role in the Charge of the Light Brigade
Charge of the Light Brigade
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The charge was the result of a miscommunication in such a way that the brigade attempted a much more difficult objective...
at Balaclava.
His daughter Louisa Dunn, daughter by his second wife, Sophia Louisa, eldest daughter of Hon. A. N. J. Duchesnay, Seigneur of Beauport, P.Q., married, 1868, Colonel William Henry Rodes Green, C.B., son of the late Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew P. Green, K.C.H., who became a Major-General in 1875, and, in 1886, was created a K. C.S.I. Their daughter, Ethel, married, December 1st, 1896, John Forsyth Burstall, Esquire, of Quebec.