Lt. Col. John Beikie (February 14, 1766 – March 20, 1839) was a merchant and political figure in
Upper Canada.
Biography
He was born of Scottish parents in
Gibraltar
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, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gib ...
in 1766. He settled in
Cornwall in 1794 and was named justice of the peace in the
Eastern District in 1796. He moved to York (
Toronto) in 1801 where he lived on the north side of Front Street east of Spadina Avenue where Windsor Street now stands.
Rev. Dr. Henry Scaddingdescribes him as a tall, upright, staidly moving man who was usually seen in a long snuff-coloured overcoat and, also, as one of the dramatis personae of York. He served in the local militia during the
War of 1812 and was actively engaged in the defence of York against the American invaders in 1813 and was held by them as a hostage. His wife, Penelope, was one of the few who held fast in her home to keep off American looters. From 1810 to 1815 John Beikie was Sheriff of York and, as such, he probably was the first to complain of wretched conditions in York Gaol; a protest repeated by
Sir William Campbell and many others over the years. Beikie represented
Stormont and Glengarry in the
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada from 1812 to 1816. He was clerk of the
Executive Council Executive Council may refer to:
Government
* Executive Council (Commonwealth countries), a constitutional organ that exercises executive power and advises the governor
* Executive Council of Bern, the government of the Swiss canton of Bern
* Ex ...
from 1820 to 1825 and was named justice of the peace in the
Home District
The Home District was one of four districts of the Province of Quebec created in 1788 in the western reaches of the Montreal District and detached in 1791 to create the new colony of Upper Canada. It was abolished with the adoption of the county ...
in 1822. He became Lieutenant Colonel of the militia in 1826.
John Beikie was a Freemason and one of the founding members o
St. Andrew's Lodge He was Master from 1825 - 1828.
He died in Toronto in 1839.
See also
*
List of Gibraltarians
References
*''Becoming Prominent: Leadership in Upper Canada, 1791-1841'', J.K. Johnson (1989)
*''History of St. Andrew's Lodge A.F. & A.M. No. 16, G.R.C. 1822 - 1922'', R.W. Bro. Henry T. Smith, P.G.R.
References
1766 births
1839 deaths
Members of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
People from Cornwall, Ontario
Canadian people of Gibraltarian descent
Gibraltarian emigrants to Canada
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