William Thompson (Upper Canada)
Encyclopedia
William Thompson was a farmer and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in New Brunswick
in 1786, the son of a United Empire Loyalist, and came to Grantham Township with his family in 1809. He served as captain in the local militia during the War of 1812
and fought at the Battle of Queenston Heights
. He was taking prisoner by the Americans
while on a scouting expedition. When he returned, his father had died and their property damaged; he settled in Toronto Township
. He built a sawmill
with his brother in 1817. During the Upper Canada
rebellion, he served as colonel in the York
militia and became lieutenant colonel in 1846. In 1824, he was elected to the 9th Parliament of Upper Canada
for York and Simcoe
. He was a conservative member, with close ties to members of the so-called "Family Compact
". After several attempts at reelection, he retired to local politics. In 1844, he became a member of the township council and was reeve in 1851.
He died in Toronto Township in 1860.
His grandson, Alfred Burke Thompson
, later served in the provincial and federal parliaments.
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 New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
in 1786, the son of a United Empire Loyalist, and came to Grantham Township with his family in 1809. He served as captain in the local 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...
and fought at the Battle of Queenston Heights
Battle of Queenston Heights
The Battle of Queenston Heights was the first major battle in the War of 1812 and resulted in a British victory. It took place on 13 October 1812, near Queenston, in the present-day province of Ontario...
. He was taking prisoner by the Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
while on a scouting expedition. When he returned, his father had died and their property damaged; he settled in Toronto Township
Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades...
. He built a sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
with his brother in 1817. During the 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...
rebellion, he served as colonel in the York
York County, Ontario
York County is a historic county in Upper Canada, Canada West, and the Canadian province of Ontario.York County was created in 1792 and was part of the jurisdiction of Home District of Upper Canada...
militia and became lieutenant colonel in 1846. In 1824, he was elected to the 9th Parliament of Upper Canada
9th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 9th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 11 January 1825. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in July 1824. All sessions were held at York, Upper Canada...
for York and Simcoe
Simcoe County, Ontario
Simcoe County is located in central portion of Southern Ontario. The County is situated just north of the Greater Toronto Area stretching from the shores of Lake Simcoe in the east to Georgian Bay in the west...
. He was a conservative member, with close ties to members of the so-called "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...
". After several attempts at reelection, he retired to local politics. In 1844, he became a member of the township council and was reeve in 1851.
He died in Toronto Township in 1860.
His grandson, Alfred Burke Thompson
Alfred Burke Thompson
Alfred Burke Thompson was an Ontario barrister and political figure. He represented Simcoe Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1898 to 1902 and from 1905 to 1919 and Simcoe East in the Canadian House of Commons from 1925 to 1935 as a Conservative member.He was born in...
, later served in the provincial and federal parliaments.