born March 12, 1795, Springfield, Angus, Scot.
died Aug. 28, 1861, Toronto
Scottish-born Canadian journalist and political agitator.
He immigrated to Canada in 1820 and became a merchant in Upper Canada (later Ontario). In 1824 he founded a newspaper in Queenston, the Colonial Advocate , in which he criticized the ruling oligarchy in Upper Canada. Elected to the province's assembly (1828–36), he was expelled six times by the conservative majority for his newspaper's invectives against the government. A list of Canadian grievances against British colonial rule that he published led to the recall of the province's governor. In 1837 he led 800 followers in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the provincial government. After attempting to rally his forces on Navy Island in the Niagara River, N.Y., he was jailed for violating U.S. neutrality laws. He returned to Canada in 1849 and later served in the Canadian Parliament (1851–58).