John Solomon Cartwright
Encyclopedia
Lt.-Col. The Hon. John Solomon Cartwright QC
(September 17, 1804 – January 15, 1845) was a businessman, lawyer, judge, farmer and political figure.
He was born in Kingston
in 1804, the son of Richard Cartwright, who died while John was still young, and Magdalen Secord, sister-in-law of Laura Secord
. After studying law at Toronto
and Oxford
he articled in the offices of John Beverley Robinson and was called to the bar in 1825. In 1827, after the death of his mother, he continued to study law at Lincoln's Inn
in London
; he returned to Kingston in 1830. In 1832, he became the first president of the Commercial Bank of the Midland District. In 1834, he became a judge in the Midland District and he was named Queen's Counsel
in 1838. In 1836, he was elected to the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada
representing Lennox
and Addington
and represented it again in the 1st Parliament of the Province of Canada
. He attempted to ensure that British institutions would be preserved in the new union. In 1834, he proposed a form of juvenile reform school
that he called "Juvenile Houses of Refuge"; this resolution was not implemented. In 1844, he travelled to England to attempt to prevent the movement of the capital from Kingston to Montreal
. He was also lieutenant-colonel in the local militia.
Cartwright is credited in having a major effect on the architecture of public buildings in Kingston by choosing or helping influence the selection of architects. Also, in Napanee, it is said that every public building including schools and churches was built on land donated by Cartwright.
Up until 1843, his estate of 881 acres (3.6 km²), Rockwood Villa, near Kingston, included a large farm with high quality livestock; he sold off some of his property as building lots at that time. In 1845, he died at his home of tuberculosis
. He had married Sarah Hayter Macaulay, daughter of James Macaulay
, by whom he left a family of seven children. His sister-in-law was Harriet Dobbs
Cartwright and he was the uncle of Sir Richard John Cartwright
.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(September 17, 1804 – January 15, 1845) was a businessman, lawyer, judge, farmer and political figure.
He was born in 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...
in 1804, the son of Richard Cartwright, who died while John was still young, and Magdalen Secord, sister-in-law of Laura Secord
Laura Secord
Laura Ingersoll Secord was a Canadian heroine of the War of 1812. She is known for warning British forces of an impending American attack that led to the British victory at the Battle of Beaver Dams.-Early life:...
. After studying law at 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...
and Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
he articled in the offices of John Beverley Robinson and was called to the bar in 1825. In 1827, after the death of his mother, he continued to study law at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
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...
; he returned to Kingston in 1830. In 1832, he became the first president of the Commercial Bank of the Midland District. In 1834, he became a judge in the Midland District and he was named Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1838. In 1836, he was elected to the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada
13th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 13th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 8 November 1836. Elections in Upper Canada had been held 20 June 1836. All sessions were held at Toronto.The House of Assembly had five sessions 8 November 1836 to 10 February 1840....
representing Lennox
Lennox County, Ontario
Lennox County is a historic county in what is now the Canadian province of Ontario.As an upper-tier municipality, the county of Lennox was created on paper in 1792, but has never existed as a discrete municipal entity. From 1792 until 1864, it was part of the United Counties of Frontenac, Lennox...
and Addington
Addington County, Ontario
Addington County is a historic county in what is now the Canadian province of Ontario.It was named after Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth. As an upper-tier municipality, the county of Addington was created on paper in 1792, but has never existed as a discrete municipal entity. From 1792...
and represented it again in the 1st Parliament of the Province of Canada
1st Parliament of the Province of Canada
The 1st Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from June 15, 1841 to 1843. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in April 1841. All sessions were held at Kingston, Canada West....
. He attempted to ensure that British institutions would be preserved in the new union. In 1834, he proposed a form of juvenile reform school
Reform school
A reform school in the United States was a term used to define, often somewhat euphemistically, what was often essentially a penal institution for boys, generally teenagers.-History:...
that he called "Juvenile Houses of Refuge"; this resolution was not implemented. In 1844, he travelled to England to attempt to prevent the movement of the capital from Kingston 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 was also lieutenant-colonel in the local militia.
Cartwright is credited in having a major effect on the architecture of public buildings in Kingston by choosing or helping influence the selection of architects. Also, in Napanee, it is said that every public building including schools and churches was built on land donated by Cartwright.
Up until 1843, his estate of 881 acres (3.6 km²), Rockwood Villa, near Kingston, included a large farm with high quality livestock; he sold off some of his property as building lots at that time. In 1845, he died at his home of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. He had married Sarah Hayter Macaulay, daughter of James Macaulay
James Macaulay
James Macaulay was the Chief Medical Officer of Upper Canada.-Military career:In 1759, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the son of a clergyman. He gained a commission into the army as a surgeon and served with the Queen's Rangers during the American Revolution. In 1785, he joined the 33rd Regiment...
, by whom he left a family of seven children. His sister-in-law was Harriet Dobbs
Harriet Dobbs
Harriet Dobbs , a member of the family of Castle Dobbs, Co. Antrim, was from Dublin where she married her husband, Robert David Cartwright. He was the son of Richard Cartwright of Kingston, Upper Canada. The couple came to Kingston from Ireland in 1833...
Cartwright and he was the uncle of Sir Richard John Cartwright
Richard John Cartwright
Sir Richard John Cartwright, PC, GCMG, PC was a Canadian businessman and politician. He was born and raised in Kingston, Ontario in a United Empire Loyalist family, the son of Harriet Dobbs Cartwright and the grandson of Richard Cartwright...
.