Thomas McCord
Encyclopedia
Thomas McCord was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada
.
He was born in County Antrim
, Ireland
in 1750 and had arrived at Quebec City
with his family by 1764. He entered business as a merchant at Quebec and Montreal
. He was director of the Montréal Distillery Company from 1787 through 1788. He was named a justice of the peace in 1788. McCord was also provincial grand secretary for the freemasons
. He travelled to Ireland on business in 1796, only returning in 1805; during this time, his business suffered some setbacks and his property was seized for unpaid debts.
In 1798, he married Sarah Solomons, the daughter of Montreal merchant Levy Solomons, at London
. On his return, he again established himself as a merchant. In 1809, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
for Montreal West; he was elected again for Bedford in 1816. In the assembly, he generally supported the English party.
McCord served as a lieutenant in the local militia. He helped establish a paid police force in Montreal and also served as a police magistrate there. With Jean-Marie Mondelet
, McCord served as chairman for the Court of Quarter Sessions. McCord was also a member of the Freemasons.
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...
.
He was born in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, 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 1750 and had arrived at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
with his family by 1764. He entered business as a merchant at Quebec and 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 director of the Montréal Distillery Company from 1787 through 1788. He was named a justice of the peace in 1788. McCord was also provincial grand secretary for the freemasons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
. He travelled to Ireland on business in 1796, only returning in 1805; during this time, his business suffered some setbacks and his property was seized for unpaid debts.
In 1798, he married Sarah Solomons, the daughter of Montreal merchant Levy Solomons, at 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...
. On his return, he again established himself as a merchant. In 1809, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada was the lower house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The legislative assembly was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791...
for Montreal West; he was elected again for Bedford in 1816. In the assembly, he generally supported the English party.
McCord served as a lieutenant in the local militia. He helped establish a paid police force in Montreal and also served as a police magistrate there. With Jean-Marie Mondelet
Jean-Marie Mondelet
Jean-Marie Mondelet was a notary and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu around 1771, the son of Dominique Mondelet, and studied at the Collège Saint-Raphaël and the Petit Séminaire de Quebec...
, McCord served as chairman for the Court of Quarter Sessions. McCord was also a member of the Freemasons.