James Cotter (1772 – January 18, 1849) was a farmer, judge and political figure in
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada (french: link=no, province du Haut-Canada) was a part of British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of the ...
.
He was born in
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
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state in 1772, the son of a
United Empire Loyalist
United Empire Loyalists (or simply Loyalists) is an honorific title which was first given by the 1st Lord Dorchester, the Governor of Quebec, and Governor General of The Canadas, to American Loyalists who resettled in British North America duri ...
. He settled in
Adolphustown Township in 1794 and, around 1817, moved to
Sophiasburgh Township. He served as captain in the local militia during the
War of 1812
The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...
, becoming lieutenant colonel in 1830. He was elected as representative for
Prince Edward in the
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was the elected part of the legislature for the province of Upper Canada, functioning as the lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada. Its legislative power was subject to veto by the appointed Lis ...
in 1816. In 1837, he was named a judge in the Prince Edward District. He died in Sophiasburgh Township in 1849.
References
*''Becoming Prominent: Leadership in Upper Canada, 1791-1841'', J.K. Johnson (1989)
1772 births
1849 deaths
Members of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
Upper Canada judges
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