Robert Lester (ca 1746 – July 12, 1807) was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada. He was born in Galway, Ireland around 1746 and came to the town of Quebec around 1770. He became a merchant there, importing cloth and spirits, exporting wheat, supplying provisions to the army and providing small loans to individuals. He served in the militia as a captain during the

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

invasion of 1775–6. Lester was among those lobbying for a representative assembly and, in 1792, he was elected to the

1st Parliament of Lower Canada The 1st Parliament of Lower Canada was in session from December 17, 1792, to May 31, 1796. Elections for the Legislative Assembly in Lower Canada had been held in June 1792. All sessions were held at Quebec City Quebec City ( or ; french: ...

for the Lower Town of Quebec; he was defeated in 1796 but elected again in 1800. He was named lieutenant-colonel in the militia in 1799. With his nephew, Robert Morrogh, as partner, Lester's business expanded into the timber trade; the partners had ships built for use by the business and set up a

distillery Distillation, or classical distillation, is the process of separating the components or substances from a liquid mixture by using selective boiling and condensation, usually inside an apparatus known as a still. Dry distillation is the heati ...

and a brewery. Lester was also speculating in land in the

Eastern Townships The Eastern Townships (french: Cantons de l'Est) is an historical administrative region in southeastern Quebec, Canada. It lies between the St. Lawrence Lowlands and the American border, and extends from Granby in the southwest, to Drummondv ...

. As a Roman Catholic, he was able to cultivate close ties with the Quebec clergy, including Bishop

Joseph-Octave Plessis Joseph-Octave Plessis (March 3, 1763 – December 4, 1825) was a Canadian Roman Catholic clergyman from Quebec. He was the first archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec after the diocese was elevated to the status of an archdiocese. ...

. Although on the surface the company appeared to be doing well, it had overextended itself financially and went bankrupt in 1807, a common fate of businesses importing goods at that time. Lester died at Quebec City a few months later.

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* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lester, Robert 1740s births 1830 deaths 18th-century Irish businesspeople 19th-century Irish businesspeople Businesspeople from County Galway Members of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada Irish emigrants to pre-Confederation Quebec Canadian Roman Catholics 18th-century Canadian businesspeople Immigrants to the Province of Quebec (1763–1791) Politicians from County Galway