John Tucker Williams
Encyclopedia
John Tucker Williams was a navy officer and political figure in Canada West.
He was born at Penryn, Cornwall
in 1789, a member of the Williams family of Caerhays and Burncoose
. His middle name was for the Tucker family of Trematon Castle, Cornwall. He joined the Royal Navy
and served as a commander at the Battle of Trafalgar
, coming to Upper Canada
in 1812. During the War of 1812
, he commanded a ship on Lake Ontario
. Williams first settled in Cobourg
and later moved to Port Hope
, becoming its first mayor in 1850. He commanded a militia regiment during the Rebellions of 1837
and represented East Durham
in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
from 1841 to 1847. He died at his estate, Penryn Park, in Port Hope in 1854.
His son, Arthur
, later represented Durham East
in the provincial and federal legislatures, and his statue stands in front of the town hall of Port Hope
. He was the grandfather of General Arthur Victor Seymour Williams
.
He was born at Penryn, Cornwall
Penryn, Cornwall
Penryn is a civil parish and town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the Penryn River about one mile northwest of Falmouth...
in 1789, a member of the Williams family of Caerhays and Burncoose
Williams family of Caerhays and Burncoose
The Williams family of Caerhays and Burncoose, were, for several generations, dominant in the Cornish Industrial Revolution as owners of mines and smelting works...
. His middle name was for the Tucker family of Trematon Castle, Cornwall. He joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and served as a commander at the Battle of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
, coming to 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...
in 1812. 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...
, he commanded a ship on Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
. Williams first settled in Cobourg
Cobourg, Ontario
Cobourg is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Southern Ontario 95 km east of Toronto. It is the largest town in Northumberland County. Its nearest neighbour is Port Hope, to the west. It is located along Highway 401 and the former Highway 2...
and later moved to Port Hope
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
, becoming its first mayor in 1850. He commanded a militia regiment during the Rebellions of 1837
Rebellions of 1837
The Rebellions of 1837 were a pair of Canadian armed uprisings that occurred in 1837 and 1838 in response to frustrations in political reform. A key shared goal was the allowance of responsible government, which was eventually achieved in the incident's aftermath.-Rebellions:The rebellions started...
and represented East Durham
Durham County, Ontario
Durham County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was named from the English County and city.Durham County was created in 1792. It was composed of the townships of Cartwright, Manvers, Cavan, Darlington, Clarke and Hope, and portions of what is now Peterborough County,...
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 1841 to 1847. He died at his estate, Penryn Park, in Port Hope in 1854.
His son, Arthur
Arthur Trefusis Heneage Williams
Lt.-Colonel The Hon. Arthur Trefusis Heneage Williams was a Canadian businessman, farmer and political figure. His statue stands in front of the town hall of Port Hope, Ontario....
, later represented Durham East
Durham East
Durham East was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1904. It was located in the province of Ontario...
in the provincial and federal legislatures, and his statue stands in front of the town hall of Port Hope
Port Hope
Port Hope mar refer to:*Port Hope, Michigan, U.S.*Port Hope, Ontario, Canada**Port Hope Aerodrome**Port Hope Conference**Port Hope Panthers**Port Hope railway station**Port Hope Transit...
. He was the grandfather of General Arthur Victor Seymour Williams
Arthur Victor Seymour Williams
General Arthur Victor Seymour Williams , was a Canadian general in the First World War and later the Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police....
.