William Allan (banker)
Encyclopedia
William Allan JP
(ca. 1770 – 11 July 1853) was a Canadian
banker, businessman and politician.
Allan was born at Moss, near Huntly, Scotland around 1770. He came to Canada around 1787 to work with Forsyth, Richardson and Company and settled at Niagara
a year later. In 1795, he moved to York (Toronto
). In 1797, he opened a general store with Alexander Wood
, later becoming sole owner.
In 1800, Allan was named a justice of the peace in the Home District and, in 1801, became the postmaster at York. During the War of 1812
, he served as major in the York militia and negotiated the terms of surrender when York was first captured by the American
forces. His store was looted during this period. Allan also served as supplier to the British forces. He later served on the commission responsible for reviewing claims for losses during the war, including his own.
Allan served as an associated judge at the 1818 trial of several members of the North West Company
charged with the murder of Governor Robert Semple
after the Battle of Seven Oaks. In 1818, he became the agent for the Bank of Montreal
at York and, in 1821, he was part of the group that established the Bank of Upper Canada
and he was its first president from 1822 to 1835. Allan also served as a director of the Canada Company
, which was formed to develop and sell property within the province. In 1834, he became governor of the British America Fire and Life Assurance Company. From 1829-1831 he was chairman of the Home District Council
.
Allan was a close friend of the Reverend John Strachan
and his close connections to the Family Compact
led to an appointment on the Legislative Council
in 1825. He became the first president of the Toronto Board of Trade in 1834. In 1836, he was named to the Executive Council for the province after the existing council resigned en masse to protest new Lieutenant Governor Francis Bond Head
's autocratic style of government. Allan retired from the two councils after the union of Upper and Lower Canada
in 1841.
William Allan died in Toronto in 1853.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(ca. 1770 – 11 July 1853) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
banker, businessman and politician.
Allan was born at Moss, near Huntly, Scotland around 1770. He came to Canada around 1787 to work with Forsyth, Richardson and Company and settled at Niagara
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a Canadian town located in Southern Ontario where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario in the Niagara Region of the southern part of the province of Ontario. It is located across the Niagara river from Youngstown, New York, USA...
a year later. In 1795, he moved to York (Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
). In 1797, he opened a general store with Alexander Wood
Alexander Wood (merchant)
Alexander Wood was a merchant and magistrate in Upper Canada who was the center of a sex scandal in 1810.-Early life and career:...
, later becoming sole owner.
In 1800, Allan was named a justice of the peace in the Home District and, in 1801, became the postmaster at York. 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 served as major in the York militia and negotiated the terms of surrender when York was first captured by the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
forces. His store was looted during this period. Allan also served as supplier to the British forces. He later served on the commission responsible for reviewing claims for losses during the war, including his own.
Allan served as an associated judge at the 1818 trial of several members of the North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
charged with the murder of Governor Robert Semple
Robert Semple (Canada)
Robert Semple was Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company from autumn 1815 until his death at the Battle of Seven Oaks. In May 1816, the Métis led by Cuthbert Grant thought Semple and his men were going to declare war, so they got ready. Semple and some men went to confront the Métis, and a fight...
after the Battle of Seven Oaks. In 1818, he became the agent for the Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
at York and, in 1821, he was part of the group that established the Bank of Upper Canada
Bank of Upper Canada
The Bank of Upper Canada was a Canadian bank established in 1821 under a Charter granted by the colony of Upper Canada in 1819. The incorporators were William Allan, Robert C. Horne, John Scarlett, Francis Jackson, William W. Baldwin, Alexander Legge, Thomas Ridout, his son Samuel Ridout, D’Arcy...
and he was its first president from 1822 to 1835. Allan also served as a director of the Canada Company
Canada Company
The Canada Company was a large private chartered British land development company, incorporated by an act of British parliament on July 27, 1825, to aid the colonization of Upper Canada. Canada Company assisted emigrants by providing good ships, low fares, implements and tools,and inexpensive land....
, which was formed to develop and sell property within the province. In 1834, he became governor of the British America Fire and Life Assurance Company. From 1829-1831 he was chairman of the Home District Council
Home District Council
The Home District Council was the municipal governing body for York, Upper Canada from 1792 to 1834. It was established by Lieutenant Governor of Ontario John Graves Simcoe....
.
Allan was a close friend of the Reverend John Strachan
John Strachan
John Strachan was an influential figure in Upper Canada and the first Anglican Bishop of Toronto.-Early life:Strachan was the youngest of six children born to a quarry worker in Aberdeen, Scotland. He graduated from King's College, Aberdeen in 1797...
and his close connections to the Family Compact
Family Compact
Fully developed after the War of 1812, the Compact lasted until Upper and Lower Canada were united in 1841. In Lower Canada, its equivalent was the Château Clique. The influence of the Family Compact on the government administration at different levels lasted to the 1880s...
led to an appointment on the Legislative Council
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...
in 1825. He became the first president of the Toronto Board of Trade in 1834. In 1836, he was named to the Executive Council for the province after the existing council resigned en masse to protest new Lieutenant Governor Francis Bond Head
Francis Bond Head
Sir Francis Bond Head, 1st Baronet KCH PC , known as "Galloping Head", was Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada during the rebellion of 1837.-Biography:...
's autocratic style of government. Allan retired from the two councils after the union of Upper and 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...
in 1841.
William Allan died in Toronto in 1853.