John Graves Simcoe

Simcoe, John Graves
Simcoe, John Graves, army officer, lt-gov of Upper Canada (b at Cotterstock, Eng 25 Feb 1752; d at Exeter, Eng 26 Oct 1806). Commander of the Queen's Rangers in the AMERICAN REVOLUTION, he became in 1791 the first lt-gov of UPPER CANADA, where he arrived in 1792. He began the policy of granting land to American settlers, confident that they would become loyal settlers and aware that they were the main hope for rapid economic growth. He saw the southwestern peninsula as the future centre not only of the province but of trade with the interior of the continent. He founded York [ TORONTO ], intending it to be a temporary capital, and laid the foundation of a road system. He wanted to make the colony an example of the superiority of British institutions, and he appointed lieutenants of counties, introduced a court of king's bench and had slavery declared illegal. He also effectively defeated attempts to set up elected town meetings on the New England model. He proposed municipal councils, urged a university with preparatory schools and sought the full endowment of the Church of England. He had few critics in the province but could not persuade the imperial government to finance his projects or to exempt him from the military authority of Guy CARLETON, Lord Dorchester, at Québec. Concerned about defence and in ill health, he left the colony in 1796. He was then governor of Santo Domingo [Dominican Republic] and later commander of the Western District in England. Appointed commander in chief for India in 1806, he died before he could take up the position.

Author S.R. MEALING

Suggested Reading
S.R. Mealing, "The Enthusiasms of John Graves Simcoe," Canadian Historical Assn, Report (1958) and "John Graves Simcoe" in R.L. McDougall, ed, Our Living Tradition, Fourth Series (1962).

Links to Other Sites
Historica-Dominion Institute
The website for the Historica-Dominion Institute, parent organization of The Canadian Encyclopedia and the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. Check out their extensive online feature about the War of 1812, the "Heritage Minutes" video collection, and many other interactive resources concerning Canadian history, culture, and heritage.

John Graves Simcoe
This Archives of Ontario website profiles John Graves Simcoe, leader of the Queen's Rangers during the American Revolution and the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada.

History of Ontario's Legislative Buildings
This historical overview of Ontario's legislative buildings is from the website for the Government of Ontario.

Healing Power of Plants
Learn about some of the plant-based tonics, traditional remedies, and patent medicines popular with Canadians in years past. See "Canadian Case Studies" in the "Past Remedies" section for related information about famous Canadian historical figures. From the Virtual Museum of Canada.

The Canadian State: Documents & Dialogue
The Canadian State Web exhibition enables students to explore the various aspects of Canadian governance and to use a set of unique "real life" activities to create their own political party. The activities cover a wide variety of Social Science disciplines: History, Civics, Law, Language Arts, World Issues, Communications, and Canada in a North American Perspective. From Library and Archives Canada.

John Graves Simcoe
A biography of John Graves Simcoe, army officer and colonial administrator. From the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.

Fort York
View a map and description of the current Fort York historic site. Includes brief synopses of early Toronto history, the War of 1812, and more. A City of Toronto website.

Red Jacket
See page 51 for a portrait of Red Jacket. Also includes an account of the tenuous relations between Iroquois leaders and British and American officials in the 18th century. From the New York State Museum.

Niagara Parks: Commemorative Plaques & Markers
See the text of individual plaques and markers commemorating the War of 1812 found throughout the grounds of Niagara Parks in Ontario. Also, check this site for more information about specific park locations and events.

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
A listing of Ontario's vice-regal representatives since 1792. From the Government of Ontario.