Charles Duncombe
Encyclopedia
Charles Duncombe was a leader in the Upper Canada Rebellion
in 1837.
He was born in Connecticut
and became a doctor in 1819. He then settled in Upper Canada
, and in 1824 he established the first medical school in Upper Canada, in St. Thomas
, under the patronage of Colonel Thomas Talbot
. Duncombe was a Freemason, serving as first master of the Mount Moriah lodge at Westminster; in 1836, he set up a grand lodge independent from the British lodges and became its first grand master. In 1828 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly
as a representative for London
. He was originally a Reformer in the same vein as Robert Baldwin
, but was attracted by William Lyon Mackenzie
's more radical reform movement. In 1836 he travelled to Britain
to argue the case for reform in Canada, but he was unsuccessful.
In December 1837, Duncombe heard reports of Mackenzie's rebellion in Toronto
. Duncombe, with Robert Alway
, Finlay Malcolm, Eliakim Malcolm, and Joshua Doan
, gathered about 200 men on 8 December and marched towards Toronto; this is sometimes known as the Western Rising. A few hundred more rebels joined them on their march, but they dispersed near Hamilton
on 13 December when they learned of Mackenzie's defeat, and that a militia under Colonel Allan MacNab
was on their way to stop them. Duncombe and Eliakim Malcolm fled to the United States; Duncombe remained there for the rest of his life, despite being pardoned in 1843. Joshua Doan was executed in 1839.
Duncombe moved to Sacramento County, California
in 1849, and established a Masonic lodge in Sacramento
in 1852. Although one of first doctors to arrive in Sacramento, he did not qualify to practice in the state until 1851. He married Lucy Millard of California. In 1859, he was elected to the California State Assembly
as one of four members from Sacramento County, but was disqualified because he was not an American citizen. He became a citizen and was elected again in 1863 as one of the county's five representatives. He died in Hicksville, California in 1867 after a severe case of sunstroke and buried in the Masonic Section of the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery
in Sacramento, California
.
Upper Canada Rebellion
The Upper Canada Rebellion was, along with the Lower Canada Rebellion in Lower Canada, a rebellion against the British colonial government in 1837 and 1838. Collectively they are also known as the Rebellions of 1837.-Issues:...
in 1837.
He was born in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and became a doctor in 1819. He then settled in Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
, and in 1824 he established the first medical school in Upper Canada, in St. Thomas
St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas is a city in southern , Ontario, Canada. It is the seat for Elgin County and gained its city charter on March 4, 1881.-History:...
, under the patronage of Colonel Thomas Talbot
Thomas Talbot (Upper Canada)
Colonel Thomas Talbot was born at Malahide Castle in Ireland near Dublin He was the fourth son of Richard Talbot and his wife Margaret Talbot, 1st Baroness Talbot of Malahide...
. Duncombe was a Freemason, serving as first master of the Mount Moriah lodge at Westminster; in 1836, he set up a grand lodge independent from the British lodges and became its first grand master. In 1828 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
as a representative for London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. He was originally a Reformer in the same vein as Robert Baldwin
Robert Baldwin
Robert Baldwin was born at York . He, along with his political partner Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, led the first responsible ministry in Canada, regarded by some as the first truly Canadian government....
, but was attracted by William Lyon Mackenzie
William Lyon Mackenzie
William Lyon Mackenzie was a Scottish born American and Canadian journalist, politician, and rebellion leader. He served as the first mayor of Toronto, Upper Canada and was an important leader during the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion.-Background and early years in Scotland, 1795–1820:Mackenzie was...
's more radical reform movement. In 1836 he travelled to Britain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
to argue the case for reform in Canada, but he was unsuccessful.
In December 1837, Duncombe heard reports of Mackenzie's rebellion in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Duncombe, with Robert Alway
Robert Alway
Robert Alway was a farmer and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England in 1790 and arrived in Upper Canada around 1816. He represented Oxford in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada from 1834 to 1841 as a Reformer. He served in the local militia but...
, Finlay Malcolm, Eliakim Malcolm, and Joshua Doan
Joshua Gwillen Doan
Joshua Gwillen Doan was a farmer and tanner who participated in the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837.He was born in the Sugar Loaf area of the Niagara District in 1811 to a family of Quakers who had left Pennsylvania before the start of the War of 1812. He began farming and then became a tanner when...
, gathered about 200 men on 8 December and marched towards Toronto; this is sometimes known as the Western Rising. A few hundred more rebels joined them on their march, but they dispersed near Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
on 13 December when they learned of Mackenzie's defeat, and that a militia under Colonel Allan MacNab
Allan MacNab
Sir Allan Napier MacNab, 1st Baronet was a Canadian political leader and Premier of the Province of Canada before Canadian Confederation .-Biography:...
was on their way to stop them. Duncombe and Eliakim Malcolm fled to the United States; Duncombe remained there for the rest of his life, despite being pardoned in 1843. Joshua Doan was executed in 1839.
Duncombe moved to Sacramento County, California
Sacramento County, California
Sacramento County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Sacramento, which is also the state capital. As of 2010 the county had a population of 1,418,788....
in 1849, and established a Masonic lodge in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
in 1852. Although one of first doctors to arrive in Sacramento, he did not qualify to practice in the state until 1851. He married Lucy Millard of California. In 1859, he was elected to the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
as one of four members from Sacramento County, but was disqualified because he was not an American citizen. He became a citizen and was elected again in 1863 as one of the county's five representatives. He died in Hicksville, California in 1867 after a severe case of sunstroke and buried in the Masonic Section of the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery
Sacramento Historic City Cemetery
The Sacramento Historic City Cemetery , located at 1000 Broadway, at 10th Street, is the oldest existing cemetery in Sacramento, California. The cemetery is located at the highest point in Sacramento...
in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
.