Joseph Gibb Robertson
Encyclopedia
Joseph Gibb Robertson was a Scottish
-born merchant, farmer and political figure in Quebec
. He represented Sherbrooke in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
from 1867 to 1892 as a Conservative.
He was born in Stuartfield
, Aberdeenshire
, the son of the Reverend James Robertson and Elizabeth Murray, and came to Sherbrooke, Lower Canada
with his family in 1836. Robertson established a store in Sherbrooke and speculated in land. He owned the Sherbrooke Grist Mill and was a director of the Sherbrooke and Magog Turnpike Road Company. Robertson helped promote the Sherbrooke, Eastern Townships and Kennebec Railway (later part of the Quebec Central Railway
) and served as its president. He served as secretary-treasurer for Sherbrooke and was mayor from 1854 to 1855, from 1857 to 1867 and from 1869 to 1872. In 1870, he married Mary Jane Woodward.
Robertson was treasurer for the province several times during the period from 1869 to 1887. He resigned his seat in the cabinet in 1874 during the Tanneries scandal
and again later that year because of his opposition to government ownership of the North Shore Railway. He was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1892. Robertson served as postmaster for Sherbrooke from 1892 until his death there at the age of 79.
His sister was Margaret Murray Robertson, a novelist. His brother Andrew
was a lawyer and governor for McGill University.
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...
-born merchant, farmer and political figure in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. He represented Sherbrooke in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
Legislative Assembly of Quebec
The Legislative Assembly of Quebec was the name of the lower house of Quebec's legislature until 1968, when it was renamed the National Assembly of Quebec. At the same time, the upper house of the legislature, the Legislative Council, was abolished...
from 1867 to 1892 as a Conservative.
He was born in Stuartfield
Stuartfield
Stuartfield is a small inland village in the Buchan area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, situated south of Old Deer. Formerly known as Crichie, a name still in use among locals today.-Services:...
, Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, the son of the Reverend James Robertson and Elizabeth Murray, and came to Sherbrooke, 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...
with his family in 1836. Robertson established a store in Sherbrooke and speculated in land. He owned the Sherbrooke Grist Mill and was a director of the Sherbrooke and Magog Turnpike Road Company. Robertson helped promote the Sherbrooke, Eastern Townships and Kennebec Railway (later part of the Quebec Central Railway
Quebec Central Railway
The Quebec Central Railway was a railway in the Canadian province of Quebec, that served the area of Quebec called the Eastern Townships, south of the St. Lawrence River. Its headquarters was in Sherbrooke. It was originally incorporated in 1869 as the Sherbrooke, Eastern Townships and Kennebec...
) and served as its president. He served as secretary-treasurer for Sherbrooke and was mayor from 1854 to 1855, from 1857 to 1867 and from 1869 to 1872. In 1870, he married Mary Jane Woodward.
Robertson was treasurer for the province several times during the period from 1869 to 1887. He resigned his seat in the cabinet in 1874 during the Tanneries scandal
Tanneries scandal
The Tanneries scandal was a scandal implicating the government of the Province of Quebec, which led to the resignation of Conservative premier, Gédéon Ouimet, in September 1874....
and again later that year because of his opposition to government ownership of the North Shore Railway. He was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1892. Robertson served as postmaster for Sherbrooke from 1892 until his death there at the age of 79.
His sister was Margaret Murray Robertson, a novelist. His brother Andrew
Andrew Robertson (1815-80)
Andrew Robertson was a lawyer and author of legal works.Robertson emigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 17 and they spent considerable time there before moving north to Sherbrooke, Quebec. He, along with two brothers, pursued careers in the legal profession...
was a lawyer and governor for McGill University.