Part 188

=Hincks, Sir Francis=, was born at Cork, on the 14th of December, 1807. He was a son of Dr. T. D. Hincks, a member of the Irish (Unitarian) Presbyterian Church, a very distinguished scholar and an exceedingly worthy man. Francis, the subject of the present sketch, commenced his education under his father, at Fermoy, and continued it in the classical and mathematical school of the Belfast Institution, then presided over by Dr. James Thompson, afterwards professor of mathematics at the University of Glasgow. In the month of November, 1822, he entered the collegiate department of the institution, and attended the logic and _belles lettres_, and the Greek and Latin classes during the winter session. But, in May, 1823, he expressed a desire to be a merchant, and it was finally arranged that he should be articled for five years to the house of John Martin & Co., previous to which, however, he had three or four months’ initiation into business habits in the office of his father’s friend, Samuel Bruce, a notary public and agent. The period for which he was articled terminated in October, 1828, but he continued with the firm until the beginning of 1830, when he sailed to the West Indies as supercargo of one of Messrs. Martin & Co.’s vessels. He visited Jamaica, Barbadoes, Trinidad and Demerara, but not meeting with an inducement to settle in any of these colonies, he agreed to accompany a Canadian gentleman, whom he met at Barbadoes, to Canada, and proceeded to Montreal and Toronto, his object being to ascertain the nature of Canadian commerce and business. Having gleaned the information he desired, he returned to Belfast in 1831. In the following summer, having determined to settle in Canada, he married the second daughter of Alexander Stewart, a merchant of Belfast, and soon after sailed to New York, and proceeded to Toronto, and took up his abode in a house belonging to Mr. Baldwin. Mr. Hincks soon obtained a high reputation for knowledge of business, and when Wm. Lyon Mackenzie attacked Mr. Merritt and others respecting the Welland canal, and obtained a parliamentary investigation, he was chosen, with another merchant, to examine the accounts. He was also appointed secretary to the Mutual Insurance Company, and cashier to a new banking company. On the appointment of Lord Durham to the government of Canada, Mr. Hincks commenced the _Examiner_ newspaper, in the editorship of which he displayed such remarkable vigour and talent, that he was invited to become a candidate for the representation of the county of Oxford in the first parliament held after the union of the upper and lower provinces. The election was held in March, 1841, when Mr. Hincks was returned by a majority of thirty-one over his opponent, a gentleman named Carroll. Shortly after his election, he was appointed by Sir Charles Bagot inspector-general, and was obliged, in consequence, to vacate his seat and return for re-election. He was opposed by John Armstrong, who abandoned the contest at noon on the third day, Mr. Hincks having a majority of 218. When Lord Metcalfe dissolved the Canadian parliament in 1844, Mr. Hincks was defeated, his opponents being Robert Riddle (a son-in-law of Admiral Vansittart), who was returned by a majority of twenty over Mr. Hincks, and the Hon. Thomas Parke, who did not go to the poll. In 1848, however, he was declared elected by the legislature, by the large majority of three hundred and thirty-five over his old opponent, Mr. Carroll, although the returning-officer had declared Mr. Carroll elected through some legal technicality in Mr. Hincks’ qualification. Having for the second time accepted the office of inspector-general under the administration of his first friend in Canada, Mr. Baldwin, he was re-elected without opposition. Upon the reconstruction of the ministry, consequent on the retirement of Mr. Baldwin, owing to his impaired health, Mr. Hincks was, through the strong expression of public opinion, named prime minister by the governor-general, and until the latter part of 1854, held that post with distinguished honour, and with the confidence and respect of all the good men of every political denomination in Canada. On his return to Canada, from a visit to England, he was elected to represent the south riding of Oxford for the fifth time, by a majority of 64 over his opponent, J. G. Vansittart, a son of Admiral Vansittart, of Woodstock, Ont., and therefore a rather formidable opponent. After the resignation of the Hincks-Dorion administration, in 1854, Mr. Hincks crossed the Atlantic for a long holiday, after the years of turmoil and corroding care which had fallen to him by virtue of his active life, and his prominent place in public affairs. During his absence, through Sir William Molesworth, he was appointed governor of Barbadoes and the Windward Islands. At the close of the term there, he was promoted to the governor-generalship of British Guiana. In 1889, on the recommendation of the Duke of Buckingham, he was created a Knight C. M. G. In 1869 he returned to England, and thence passed over to Canada, where, on the invitation of Sir John A. Macdonald, he entered the ministry as finance minister, in place of Sir John Rose, resigned. He retained his portfolio till 1873, when he resigned, and withdrew from public life. There is no public man living, it can fairly be said, whose whole career has been more creditable to himself and to the country than has been that of Sir Francis Hincks. He died at the age of seventy-eight, in the city of Montreal, on the 18th of August, 1885, deeply regretted by his many friends and admirers. Sir Francis was twice married. His first wife died in 1874, and the following year he married the widow of the late Hon. Justice Sullivan of Toronto, who survived him.

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=Ellis, Jas. E.=, of the firm of Jas. E. Ellis & Co., jewellers, Toronto, was born in the city of Liverpool, England, on the 22nd of February, 1842. The firm of which he is now a member was founded in 1836 by the Rossin Brothers, and was purchased from them by his father, Jas. E. Ellis, sen., in 1852 since which time it has been successfully carried on, and is now one of the leading diamond and jewellery houses in Canada, having moved to their present fine and commodious premises in 1881. Our subject was educated at Upper Canada College, which he left in 1857. In 1859 he went to the Red River settlement, where he remained until 1862, hunting and trading with the native population. On his return he became an active member of the firm, and since that time has taken a leading part in the management of its affairs. Being at all times partial to out-door sports, the subject of this sketch became one of the Edrol four-oared crew, in the days when races were races (of four miles), and rowed against all comers. The Edrol Crew defeated the best professional crew on the lakes in those days. This crew became the foundation stone, as it were, of the Toronto Rowing Club, the stroke oar of the Edrols being now Lieutenant-Colonel Otter. Mr. Ellis is a member of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, the Toronto Yacht Club, the National Club, and Granite Rink. Being an enthusiastic yachtsman he is always ready to splice a rope or spin a yarn. He was one of the original members of the Toronto Field Battery, as well as a member of No. 1 company of rifles, which was organized by Captain Brook, and from which the Queen’s Own sprang. He also acted as ensign in No. 1 company 10th Royals in 1864-5. He is a member of the Toronto Board of Trade, and a life member of the Athenæum Club, Toronto. In politics he is a Liberal-Conservative, and in religion belongs to the Church of England.

ADDENDA.

The following changes, alterations, and additions have come to our knowledge since this work has been printed:—

ANGERS, Hon. August Réal, appointed lieutenant-governor of the province of Quebec, 20th October, 1887. (See sketch of his life, page 242.)

BAILLAIRGÉ, Louis de Gonzague, Quebec. (See sketch of his life, page 252.) Add: The church donated by him to Pointe aux Esquimaux, on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, below Tadoussac, was built towards 1886. The house wherein General Montgomery died, 1st January, 1776, and which still exists, belongs to him, and is on the north side of Louis street, in the vicinity of the City Hall, Quebec. It is built partly of timber and stone, on a lot 20¾ feet in width by 148½ feet in depth, between the houses of Judge Tessier and Michael Collins; is one storey in height with an attic, and is kept in repair from year to year. The room wherein the general died has not been altered. The house is let to a person who sells Indian curiosities to American tourists. Part of the old shingles on the roof were removed and replaced by sheet iron. These shingles were cut into small pieces, labelled and sold to the Americans by the guardian of the City Hall at ten cents each. In the yard still stands an oven which was built by the original proprietor, M. Botherill, who was a baker.

BINGAY, Thomas Van Buskirk, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. (See sketch of his life, page 550.) In the 20th line of the sketch strike out “at the siege of Saratoga,” and substitute the words, “in his expedition to New London.”

BURNS, Rev. Robert Ferrier, D.D., Halifax, elected moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, June, 1887. (See sketch of his life on page 40.)

CHABOT, Julien, Harbour Commissioner, Quebec. (See sketch of his life, page 381.) He was married in 1857, not in 1858, as appears in his sketch.

EDGAR, William, General Passenger Agent, Grand Trunk Railway, Montreal. (See sketch of his life, page 664.) Omit the words from “when he,” on the 21st line, to the words “Western line,” on the 27th line, and read, “when he was removed to New York to take charge of the passenger department of the general extension of the Great Western and Michigan Central Railways, regaining in that position until November, 1875, when he was offered and accepted the office of general passenger agent of the Great Western Railway, with head quarters at Hamilton.” Add to the words “Grand Trunk Railway,” on the 30th line, “which included the Great Western system.”

FALCONBRIDGE, William Glenholme, Q.C., Barrister, Toronto. (See sketch of his life, page 64.) Mr. Falconbridge was appointed in November, 1887, one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature for Ontario, Queen’s Bench Division.

HARRIS, Joseph A., Barrister, Moncton, N.B. (See sketch of his life, page 126.) Read, “the late Albert J. Hickman” instead of “J. Hickman,” in the 11th line. In the 18th line read, “John J. Fraser” instead of “J. Fraser.” Add after the word “town,” in the 27th line, the words “being counsel for several leading corporations.”

HETHERINGTON, George A., M.D., St. John, N.B. (See sketch of his life, page 298.) Dr. Hetherington was, on the 26th October, 1887, elected a fellow of the Gynaecological Society of London, England.

KENNEDY, James Thomas, Indiantown, St. John, New Brunswick, died June 9th, 1887. (See sketch of his life, page 331.) On second column page 332, 26 lines from top, read “Lower Cove” instead of “Lewes Cove;” and also, 43 lines from top, read “18th May, 1883,” instead of “17th May, 1873.”

LAURIE, Major-General John Winburn, Oakfield, Nova Scotia. (See sketch of his life, page 356.) Name should read “John Wimburn Laurie.” On the 6th line read Havering “atte” (instead of “and”) Bower. On 14th line, after Harrow, read “and” instead of “at” Dresden. On the 31st line, after the word “line,” add “of”; and in the 44th line read “his” district for “the” district. He is now a member of the House of Commons for Shelburne, N.S.

MASSON, Louis François Roderique, lieutenant-governor of Quebec province, resigned, and Hon. August Real Angers was appointed his successor, 20th October, 1887. (See sketch of his life, page 346.)

MELLISH, John Thomas, M.A., Halifax. (See sketch of his life, page 246.) Mr. Mellish studied law in Halifax, in the office of Robert Sedgewick, Q.C., the present deputy minister of justice at Ottawa, and was admitted a barrister and attorney of the Supreme Court, February 24th, 1888.

MOORE, Alvan Head, Magog, Quebec. (See sketch of his life, page 567.) Having resigned the office of mayor and councillor of the township of Magog, he is now councillor and mayor of the village of Magog, and also warden of the county of Stanstead.

PANNETON, Louis Edmond, Q.C., B.C.L., LL.D., Sherbrooke (See sketch of his life, page 351.) He was elected mayor of the city of Sherbrooke in January, 1888.

PURCELL, Patrick, M.P. for Glengarry. (See sketch of his life, page 669.) In March, 1888, the Supreme Court of Canada decided that Mr. Purcell was entitled to his seat in the House of Commons, it having been contested.

ROGERS, Henry Cassady, Postmaster, Peterboro’. (See sketch of his life, page 147.) Substitute for the word “father,” on the 21st line, page 148, first column, “uncle.” In the 39th line “Mackinaw” instead of “Sault Ste. Marie.” In line 50 read “1765” instead of “1766,” In line 51 omit word “above,” and substitute the words, “first commanding officer”; and in the following line, after the words “Rogers who,” add “was the great grandfather of the subject of this sketch.”

SHAKESPEARE, Noah, Victoria, British Columbia, having retired from the representation of Victoria in the House of Commons, is now (1888) postmaster of Victoria, B.C. (See sketch of his life, page 297.)

STRATFORD, John H., Brantford, died on the 14th February, 1888. (See sketch of his life, page 58.)

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=Transcriber’s Notes:=

Obvious type-setting and punctuation errors have been corrected without note. Other corrections are as noted below. For the Addenda, new information was not added to the original biography but corrections given in the Addenda have been incorporated into the original biographies. This means corrections given in the Addenda for Joseph A. Harris (page 126), Henry Cassady Rogers (page 148), Thomas Van Buskirk Bingay (page 550), Julien Chabot (page 381), James Thomas Kennedy (page 381), and John Wimburn Laurie (page 356), have been corrected in the original biographies and also noted below. For plain text version of the eBook, text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=).

page vii, Amherst, Lord, ==> Amherst, Lord Jeffery, page vii, Archibald, Hon. Sir Adam Geo. ==> Archibald, Hon. Sir Adams Geo. page vii, Baillairge, Chev. C. P. F., ==> Baillairgé, Chev. C. P. F., page vii, Baillairge, Louis de G., ==> Baillairgé, Louis de G., page ix, Courtney, Right Rev. Bishop, ==> Courtney, Right Rev. Bishop Frederick, page ix, Curry, Lemuel Allan, M.A. ==> Currey, Lemuel Allan, M.A. page ix, Desaulles, George Cassimir, ==> Dessaulles, George Casimir, page x, Haythorn, Hon. R. P., Charlottetown, ==> Haythorne, Hon. Robert Poore, Charlottetown, page xi, Archdeacon, D.C.L., ==> Archdeacon William Turnbull, D.C.L., page xi, Laurier, Hon. Wilfred, B.C.L., Q.C., M.P. ==> Laurier, Hon. Wilfrid, B.C.L., Q.C., M.P. page xii, McNicoll, D., Montreal, ==> McNicoll, David, Montreal, page xiii, Moffatt, William, Pembroke, ==> Moffat, William, Pembroke, page xiv, Philip, Rev. John, M.A., Montreal ==> Philp, Rev. John, M.A., Montreal page xv, Eminence Elzear Alexander, Cardinal, Quebec, ==> Eminence Elzéar-Alexandre, Cardinal, Quebec page xv, Tory, Edgar J., ==> Torey, Edgar J., page xv, Turnbull, Lieut.-Col. Ferdinand, ==> Turnbull, Lieut.-Col. James Ferdinand, page xvi, Van Horn, William C., Montreal, ==> Van Horne, William C., Montreal, page 20, (_vide_ “Lockart’s Life ==> (_vide_ “Lockhart’s Life page 27, At the instance of ==> At the insistance of page 40, father, James McFarlane, ==> father, James MacFarlane, page 40, afterwards of Tweedmuir ==> afterwards of Tweedsmuir page 40, Corstorphir, Scotland,—and ==> Corstorphine, Scotland,—and page 70, Forence in South Carolina ==> Florence in South Carolina page 71, York. Liebeg’s work ==> York. Liebig’s work page 82, Lancastershire, England, ==> Lancashire, England, page 85, 1883, to the regret ==> 1883, when to the regret page 88, aunt to L’Abbé Farland ==> aunt to L’Abbé Ferland page 104, Lord Grosvener, now Duke ==> Lord Grosvenor, now Duke page 111, St. Michael’s, Coran Ban ==> St. Michael’s, Corran Ban page 114, House, in Bedforshire, England, ==> House, in Bedfordshire, England, page 126, of J. Hickmann, barrister ==> of the late Albert J. Hickman, barrister page 126, J. Fraser, Q.C., J.S.C., ==> John J. Fraser, Q.C., J.S.C., page 126, town. On ==> town being counsel for several leading corporations. On page 146, instance of his friends ==> insistance of his friends page 148, His great-grand-father was ==> His great-granduncle was page 148, Pittsburgh, Sault Ste. Marie, etc., ==> Pittsburgh, Mackinaw, etc., page 148, rebellion in 1766, ==> rebellion in 1765, page 148, of the above Colonel ==> of the first commanding officer Colonel page 148, Rogers who commanded ==> Rogers who was the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, commanded page 166, Baillairgé, Chevalier Chas. P. F. The spelling of Baillargé throughout the biography was changed to Baillairgé to match the Index entry and various references consulted. page 180, Niel McNeill, emigrated from ==> Neil McNeill, emigrated from page 221, Deer Lake, and Edmunston, ==> Deer Lake, and Edmundston, page 279, Quebec, to Edmondston, in ==> Quebec, to Edmundston, in page 327, by the John S. Hopkins University, ==> by the Johns Hopkins University, page 332, Lewes Cove, St. John, ==> Lower Cove, St. John, page 338, instance of the historian ==> insistance of the historian page 353, St. Rochs, Quebec, was born ==> St. Roch, Quebec, was born page 356, Laurie, John Winburn ==> Laurie, John Wimburn page 356, Marshalls, Havering, and Bower, ==> Marshalls, Havering atte Bower, page 356, at Harrow, at Dresden ==> at Harrow, and Dresden page 356, and line communication ==> and line of communication page 356. for the district, ==> for his district, page 361, instance of General Brock, ==> insistance of General Brock, page 382, October, 1858, Marguerite ==> October, 1857, Marguerite page 418, of Jedburg, Scotland; and ==> of Jedburgh, Scotland; and page 459, Matheson, Colonel.—The ==> Matheson, Colonel Roderick.—The page 472, born at Upner Castle, ==> born at Upnor Castle, page 479, the Pettawawa, and there ==> the Petawawa, and there page 479, Pettawawa. In 1884, J. H. Francis ==> Petawawa. In 1884, J. H. Francis page 537, Hon. P. D. DeBastzch, member ==> Hon. P. D. DeBartzch, member page 550, at the siege of Saratoga ==> in his expedition to New London page 561, Sœurs Graes of St. Hyacinthe ==> Sœurs Grises of St. Hyacinthe page 568, there was only fifty-one ==> there were only fifty-one page 583, Quebec, Hon. A. Mercier, also => Quebec, Hon. H. Mercier, also page 586, Courtney, Rev. Dr. ==> Courtney, Rev. Dr. Frederick page 592, Laurier, Hon. Wilfred, B.C.L., ==> Laurier, Hon. Wilfrid, B.C.L., page 621, Eminence Elzear Alexander, Cardinal ==> Eminence Elzéar-Alexandre, Cardinal page 657, Haythorne, Hon. R. P., Senator, ==> Haythorne, Hon. Robert Poore, Senator, page 662, McNicoll, D., Montreal, General ==> McNicoll, David, Montreal, General page 664, Trunk Railway. His ==> Trunk Railway which included the Great Western system. His page 670, St. Jerome to Normininque ==> St. Jerome to Nominingue page 670, of Ottawa, and from Normininque ==> of Ottawa, and from Nominingue page 757, in the Gore of Toronto, ==> in the Gore area of Toronto,

[The end of _A Cyclopædia of Canadian Biography, Being Chiefly Men of the Time_, George MacLean Rose, Editor.]