Neil McLean (judge)
Encyclopedia
Lt. Col. The Hon. Neil McLean (1759 – September 3, 1832) was a judge and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Scotland
in 1759, descended from the Chiefs of Mingarry Castle
on the Isle of Mull
, and came to North America
as a young man and ensign with the 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants)
to fight in the American Revolution
. After the war he was granted 2000 acres (8.1 km²) and settled near Cornwall
in Upper Canada. As a leading Presbyterian and a Highland gentleman and officer, McLean was a pre-eminent figure in the local community.
He served as sheriff in the Eastern District and, in 1788, was named judge in the surrogate court. He served in the Stormont militia during the War of 1812
, becoming colonel. In 1815, he was appointed to the Legislative Council of Upper Canada
but he never attended. He helped found the Highland Society of Canada in 1818. He died in St. Andrews in 1832.
He married Isabella, daughter of John MacDonell of Leek, cadets of the Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, being a descendant of the 7th Chief of Glengarry who died in 1645. MacDonell, who was wounded at the Battle of Culloden
(1745), was one of the three brothers who helped form the Glengarry Fencibles under their Chief, Colonel Alexander Ranaldson MacDonell of Glengarry. Neil and Isabella's sons Archibald
and Alexander were both members of the Legislative Assembly for the province and Archibald later became its chief justice.
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...
.
He was born in Scotland
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...
in 1759, descended from the Chiefs of Mingarry Castle
Mingarry Castle
Mingarry Castle is a castle situated a mile south-east of the small village of Kilchoan in Lochaber, Scotland. Nestled on ridge of rock overlooking the sea, it was considered a strategically important site in terms of communication with overseas areas and as an entranceway to the Sound of Mull...
on the Isle of Mull
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
, and came to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
as a young man and ensign with the 84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants)
84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants)
The 84th Regiment of Foot was a British regiment in the American Revolutionary War that was raised to defend present day Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada from the constant land and sea attacks by American Revolutionaries...
to fight in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. After the war he was granted 2000 acres (8.1 km²) and settled near Cornwall
Cornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
in Upper Canada. As a leading Presbyterian and a Highland gentleman and officer, McLean was a pre-eminent figure in the local community.
He served as sheriff in the Eastern District and, in 1788, was named judge in the surrogate court. He served in the Stormont militia 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...
, becoming colonel. In 1815, he was appointed to the Legislative Council of Upper Canada
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...
but he never attended. He helped found the Highland Society of Canada in 1818. He died in St. Andrews in 1832.
He married Isabella, daughter of John MacDonell of Leek, cadets of the Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, being a descendant of the 7th Chief of Glengarry who died in 1645. MacDonell, who was wounded at the Battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
(1745), was one of the three brothers who helped form the Glengarry Fencibles under their Chief, Colonel Alexander Ranaldson MacDonell of Glengarry. Neil and Isabella's sons Archibald
Archibald McLean (judge)
Chief Justice The Hon. Archibald McLean was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.-Early life:...
and Alexander were both members of the Legislative Assembly for the province and Archibald later became its chief justice.