born Sept. 6, 1817, London, Eng.
died Sept. 19, 1893, Montreal, Que., Can.
British-Canadian statesman.
He immigrated to Lower Canada (later Quebec) in 1835 and worked for the British-American Land Co., serving as high commissioner from 1844 to 1855. He entered politics in 1849 as an independent member for Sherbrooke county in the legislature of the united province of Canada. He resigned from the legislature in 1850 but was reelected for Sherbrooke town in 1853. He maintained that seat and remained leader of the English-speaking minority until 1872. As finance minister (185862, 186467), he advocated federation; following the creation of the Dominion of Canada, he became the first finance minister of the Dominion government (186768). After retiring from Parliament in 1872, he advocated Canadian independence. From 1880 to 1883 he served as the first Canadian high commissioner in London.