Rebel Leaders
Upper Canada
William Lyon Mackenzie, (1795-1861)
Canadian journalist, reformer, and first mayor of Toronto, Mackenzie was born near Dundee, Scotland, and settled in Canada in 1820. Elected to the colonial assembly in 1828, he was expelled from the legislature for publishing anti-government articles in his paper the Colonial Advocate. He was expelled from his seat in 1831 for libelling members of the Family Compact, the autocratic group which ruled the province. 930 people demonstrated in front of the Lieutenant-Governor's house the next day, staring down the loaded and armed cannon aimed at them. Mackenzie handily won the bi-election called to replace him, only to be ejected from the legislature when he tried to enter. In all, Mackenzie won four bi-elections, yet was prevented from taking his rightful seat. In 1834 he was elected the first mayor of Toronto. He held a seat from 1834 to 1836 in the provincial Parliament. Embittered by the defeat of his Reform Party in 1836, which he blamed on manipulation and intimidation by the government, Mackenzie became an advocate of open rebellion. A year later he led a group of armed insurgents on Toronto. Defeated, he fled to the United States where he was arrested and sentenced to 18 months in prison for violation of the neutrality laws between the United States and the British Empire.
John Rolph (1793-1870)
A Toronto lawyer and doctor, helped Mackenzie plan the rising. After the failure of the rebels to seize Toronto, he fled to the United States. He remained there until given amnesty in 1843. He went on to found the first medical school in Canada.
Anthony van Egmond (1771-1838)
A veteran of the Napoleonic wars, a major land owner and a baron in one of the oldest Dutch noble families, Van Egmond would appear to have more in common with the Family Compact than the small farmers who made up most of the reform movement in Upper Canada.
Born a count in the Netherlands in 1778, he followed his father into a military career and served as an officer in the Dutch army during the French invasion of 1793-94. He later served in the Dutch contingent conscripted under Napoleon and took part in the retreat from Moscow in 1812. He then joined the anti-French forces again, and with the rank of colonel, fought at the battle of Waterloo which saw the final defeat of Napoleon and the end of more than 25 years of continuous war. After the wars, Van Egmond, his wife Susanna and their children settled in Pennsylvania, but eight years later moved to the British colony of Upper Canada. In 1828, Van Egmond acquired a huge parcel of land in the what was called the Huron Tract from the Canada Company on condition that he build roads and open it up for settlement. The Canada Company, established by John Galt in 1827, operated as a virtual monopoly of the Family Compact. Van Egmond was soon at odds with the Canada Company when he learned that settlers had been forced of their land so it could be resold for more money to newly arriving settlers. Van Egmond himself had not been paid for his road building activities. He made several complaints to the government in Toronto about the plight of his settlers, but received no help, and was drawn into the circle of other anti-Family Compact reformers, led by the mayor of Toronto, William Lyon Mackenzie. When the rebellion was in planning, Van Egmond agreed to be the military commander, to train and organize an army. However, Mackenzie struck before Van Egmond had any chance to properly train and equip any such rebel force. He arrived only a few hours before the 400 or so rebels gathered at Montgomery's Tavern north of Toronto were attacked by more than 1000 government troops (many of these, however, as inexperienced as the rebels). Van Egmond, in fact, upon arrival at the camp argued for an immediate retreat but Mackenzie refused. After the defeat of the rebels, Mackenzie and Van Egmond fled, but while Mackenzie got away, Van Egmond was found hiding in a farmhouse, and was locked up in the Toronto jail to await trial. In damp and cold conditions he became seriously ill. He was moved to a hospital too late and he died on January 5, 1838. The government confiscated all of the colonel's land holdings except the property on which the Van Egmond house now stands. Even though there was an eventual pardon, the land was never returned to the family. Van Egmond's name is remembered in the small village of Egmondville just south of Seaforth in southwest Ontario. A two-storey Georgian house built in 1846 by the pioneer's eldest son Constant has been restored and is open to the public. Nearby is an old cemetery where Van Egmond and members of his family are buried. Some of their descendants still live in the area.
Peter Matthews (1786-1838)
One of the rebel leaders at Montgomery'sTavern. He was the son of a United Empire Loyalist and veteran of the War of 1812. A successful farmer east of Toronto he was a supporter of Mackenzie Reform party. Of the several hundred people arrested during the winter 1837-38, only he and Samuel Lount were hanged in public for treason, as examples to other would be rebels. The executions took place on April 12, 1838 in Toronto's courthouse yard. He along with Samuel Lount were executed as examples to other would be rebels.
Dr. Charles Duncombe (1792-1867)
Main rebel leader in the western part of Upper Canada. He was born in 1794 in Connecticut and received his license to practise medicine in 1819. He moved to Upper Canada and practised medicine in the Talbot Settlement for 6 years. He relocated to Bishopsgate near Burford in 1828. In 1838 he was elected to represent London District and was reelected in 1834 and 1836. In 1836 he worked to improve education in Upper Canada and went to England as an emissary to express the concerns of the Reformers. He entered politics in 1830 and was considered a moderate Reformer. In 1834, however, he turned to the more radical wing of the reform movement. Duncombe escaped to the United States after the defeat of Mackenzie.
Samuel Lount (1791-1838)
Lount, and blacksmith and farmer, was a member of a Quaker sect called the Children of Peace. The Quaker's were strictly pacifist group of Christians noted for their fair dealings with the First Nations and their strong stand against slavery. The Children of Peace, who were largely gathered into one village north of Toronto called Hope, were strongly concerned with the plight of the poor, which they blamed on the capitalist market economy. Poor harvests and economic depressions had caused widespread privation for many families while wealthy land owners prospered. This concern for the poor led the leader of the sect, David Willson, to make increasingly radical forays into politics. He took his supporters on regular processions through Toronto preaching on both religious and political matters. Many members of the sect, even though avowed pacifists, among them Samuel Lount, joined Mackenzie's armed rebels. The village of Hope itself was located in the riding represented by Mackenzie, and each time he won an election, large crowds of up to a thousand people escorted Mackenzie to the legislature. It is likely that Willson's protest marches and Mackenzie's own experiences provided a model for his intended march on Toronto. In late November, Lount on behalf of Mackenzie approached the Children of Peace to join in yet another political march on the legislative buildings. In the brief skirmish at Montgomery's Tavern, two members of the Children of Peace, James Kavanagh and James Henderson were killed. Lount, refered to as Colonel Lount in legal documents of the time, was captured and arrested. In spite of a personal plea for mercy from Lount's wife to the governor, he was hanged on April 12, 1838.
Lower Canada
Louis Joseph Papineau (1786-1871)
A member of the seigneurial class, Papineau nevertheless became a champion for the common citizen. A Montréal native, Papineau studied to become a lawyer. He soon entered politics, first elected to the colonial assembly in 1809. In 1822, he travelled to Great Britain as a representative of Lower Canada. In 1834 he was primarily responsible for the final form of the 92 Resolutions, a list of demands for political and economic reforms in the colony. The rejection of the resolutions by the imperial government is usually seen as the first step towards the rebellion of 1837. Papineau was known as a inspiring orator, and he participated in many of the meetings held by the patriotes during the summer of 1837. However, he always advised against taking extreme action and sought to achieve political and social change through the law courts and the parliament. He also supported non-violent actions such as a boycott against British goods. Papineau later claimed that the government provoked an armed revolt as a means to discredit and crush the patriote opposition. When fighting broke out in late 1837, he fled to the United States although he is usually seen as the main patriote leader. Here refused to support the more radical Frères Chasseurs movement of Robert Nelson. After spending some time in France, Papineau returned to Québec after amnesty was granted in 1846. He again entered politics as a supporter of the Québec nationalist Parti Rouge, opponents of the Act of Union and, later, of Confederation. Papineau died in 1871.
Robert Nelson (1794-1873)
Brother of Wolfred Nelson, another rebel leader. He attempted to establish an independent republic twice, but died in exile. After the first rebellion in 1837, Nelson fled to the United States to continue the struggle. In the US he organized the Frères Chasseurs, called the Hunters' Lodges in Upper Canada. These were made up of exiled rebels and American supporters. They were allowed to organize and arm themselves without much hindrance by the American authorities even though their activities violated the neutrality treaties signed with the British. He attempted a second rebellion in late 1838, without the support of Papineau, but suffered two decisive defeats at Lacolle and Odelltown in November. He again fled to the United States, this time for good. Here he practised medicine until his death in New York.
Wolfred Nelson (1791-1863)
Brother of Robert Nelson. Like his older brother, Wolfred also became a doctor. As a young man, Wolfred identified with the English-speaking elite of the colony, but he then became a convert to the patriote cause. After the events of 1837 he was exiled, but he returned in 1842 and resumed his political career, eventually becoming mayor of Montréal.
Thomas Storrow Brown (1803-1888)
Born in New Brunswick, Brown moved to Montréal in 1818. He failed in business, and then became involved in politics, especially in issues involving the poor. In 1834, he worked with a group helping victims of a cholera epidemic that had hit the city. By 1836 he had become connected with the radical patriote party. While primarily francophone, the patriotes attracted many anglophones who opposed the monopoly of economic and political party held by a small English elite. He was seriously injured by a loyalist mob in late 1837 and ended up partially blind. He fled Montréal to the patriote camp at St. Charles. Here he suffered a decisive defeat in battle against government forces. Brown later blamed the defeat on the lack of training and equipment of the rebel forces, but he also had allowed his forces to be caught unprepared. Brown was also accused of fleeing the battle shortly after the fighting began. He lived in exile in the United States for a number of years, but returned to Montréal when amnesty was granted in 1844.
Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan (1797-1880)
A native of Ireland, O'Callaghan arrived in Québec in 1823. He worked as a journalist and doctor. He entered politics in 1834, and with the support of Joseph-Louis Papineau, was elected into the legislature of Lower Canada. Before the rebellion he edited the English language, pro-patriote newspaper, The Vindicator. He fled to the United States after the failure of the rebellion and lived there for the rest of his life.
Amury Girod (1800-1837)
He grew up in Switzerland and when Girod arrived in Québec he joined the patriote movement. Between 1831 and 1837, he wrote a series of articles on the conservation of agriculture in Canada. In late 1837, under the threat of arrest, Girod like many other prominent patriotes fled Montréal. He led the patriotes in the final battle at St. Eustache, but he fled soon after the fighting began. With just 600 armed men against 2000 government troops the rebels had little chance. Girod, however, could not get away and shot himself when he realized he would be captured.
Jean-Olivier Chénier (1806-1837)
Another medical doctor who joined the rebels, Chénier was a native of St. Eustache. He led the last ditch resistance here after the other patriote leaders had fled, and was killed during the fighting.
André Ouimet (1808-1853)
A Québec native, Ouimet studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1836. He was a member of the Fils de la Liberté and was among the first patriotes to be arrested in November 1837. Sentenced to 16 months in jail for high treason he was released after only eight months in July 1838. After the rebellions, he returned to his law practice.
Dr. Cyrille Côté (1809-1850)
Côté would hold many professions s\during his life, teacher, doctor, politician, journalist and minister. He had been a supporter of Papineau as early as 1826 and would play a key role in the event of 1837 and 1838. Côté led an assembly of rebels with Papineau at Napierville. After the defeat at St. Charles, he fled to the United States. Here he joined up with Robert Nelson and together, without Papineau, they plotted a second rebellion. Early in 1838, an attempted invasion of Lower Canada failed and Côté was arrested by the Americans for violation of the Neutrality Laws. However, he was quickly released and immediately began planning for another invasion. Nelson and Côté led the rebel forces into Lower Canada on the night of November 3 and 4 and captured Napierville. But this second rebellion was decisively defeated at the battle of Odelltown. Côté broke with Papineau and the other exiled rebels in 1840. He converted to the Baptist Church and worked as a minister in both Canada and the United States. He died after an illness in 1850.
Who were the Rebels?
Out of 775 identified rebels in Lower Canada in 1837, about half, 388, were farmers. The next largest groups were clerks (secretaries, administrators, accountants, etc.), numbered at 119, followed by those in professions (lawyer, doctor, teacher etc.), numbered at 104, and skilled tradesmen, numbered at 90. There were also 47 rebels whose occupation was listed as labourer and 27 listed from miscellaneous occupations. Of the 446 identified rebels with Mackenzie, 291 were farmers, 100 were skilled tradesmen, 33 were labourers, nine were professionals and seven were clerks, plus six miscellaneous. Figures for the 181 Duncombe rebels are 87 farmers, 47 tradesmen, 27 labourers, ten professionals and seven clerks, with three miscellaneous.
In both colonies, then, the rebellions were most strongly based in the country with farmers making up the single largest group of rebel supporters, but in Lower Canada there was also a strong urban element.