Michael Hamilton Foley
Encyclopedia
Michael Hamilton Foley was a lawyer and political figure in Canada West.
He was born in Sligo
in Ireland
in 1820 and came to Port Colborne
in Upper Canada
with his parents in 1822. He began work as a school teacher but later worked as a journalist on several newspapers while studying law. He was called to the bar in 1851. In 1854, he was elected to the 5th Parliament of the Province of Canada
representing North Waterloo
as a Reformer; he was reelected in 1857. In 1858, he was chosen to be postmaster general. Originally, he aligned himself with George Brown
; he later opposed Brown, supporting John Sandfield Macdonald
as a moderate Reformer. Later, under pressure from his constituents, he supported Brown's proposals in support of restructuring the union. In 1861, he was elected in both North Waterloo and Perth
; he chose to represent Perth. However, he was appointed postmaster general in 1861 and chose to rerun in North Waterloo. In 1863, he was reelected as an independent Reformer. In 1864, he was appointed postmaster general, but was defeated in the resulting by-election. Although he ran for office both federally and provincially in 1867, he was unsuccessful.
He died in Simcoe, Ontario
in 1870.
He was born in Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1820 and came to Port Colborne
Port Colborne, Ontario
Port Colborne is a city on Lake Erie, at the southern end of the Welland Canal, in the Niagara Region of southern Ontario, Canada...
in 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 his parents in 1822. He began work as a school teacher but later worked as a journalist on several newspapers while studying law. He was called to the bar in 1851. In 1854, he was elected to the 5th Parliament of the Province of Canada
5th Parliament of the Province of Canada
The 5th Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from 1854 to November 1857. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in July 1854. Sessions were held in Quebec City until 1856 and then in Toronto....
representing North Waterloo
Waterloo County, Ontario
Waterloo County, created in 1853 and dissolved in 1973, was the forerunner of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. It consisted of five townships: Woolwich, Wellesley, Wilmot, Waterloo, and North Dumfries...
as a Reformer; he was reelected in 1857. In 1858, he was chosen to be postmaster general. Originally, he aligned himself with George Brown
George Brown (Canadian politician)
George Brown was a Scottish-born Canadian journalist, politician and one of the Fathers of Confederation...
; he later opposed Brown, supporting John Sandfield Macdonald
John Sandfield Macdonald
John Sandfield Macdonald, QC was the first Premier of the province of Ontario, one of the four founding provinces created at the confederation of Canada in 1867...
as a moderate Reformer. Later, under pressure from his constituents, he supported Brown's proposals in support of restructuring the union. In 1861, he was elected in both North Waterloo and Perth
Perth County, Ontario
Perth County is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is Stratford and is located in Southwestern Ontario, west of Toronto. It encompasses , 90% of which is classified as prime agricultural land...
; he chose to represent Perth. However, he was appointed postmaster general in 1861 and chose to rerun in North Waterloo. In 1863, he was reelected as an independent Reformer. In 1864, he was appointed postmaster general, but was defeated in the resulting by-election. Although he ran for office both federally and provincially in 1867, he was unsuccessful.
He died in Simcoe, Ontario
Simcoe, Ontario
Simcoe is an unincorporated community and former town in Southwestern Ontario, Canada located near Lake Erie. It is the county seat and largest community of Norfolk County....
in 1870.