Connell James Baldwin
Encyclopedia
Connell James Baldwin was an Irish
soldier and civil servant. When he was fourteen he joined the Royal Navy
, and two years later, after being deemed medically unfit to serve in that branch, the British Army
. In 1808, as an Ensign
in the 87th Foot, he purchased a Lieutenant
cy in the 83rd Foot
. He served in the Peninsular War, where he was wounded four times, and by the end of that conflict was a decorated Captain
and the Aide-de-camp
to General
Thomas Picton
.
From 1820 to 1826, when he exchanged from the 50th Foot to half-pay, Baldwin served as a Brigade-Major in Britain and the West Indies. Afterward, he helped organise and command a regiment that supported Pedro I of Brazil.
In 1828 he moved to Toronto Gore Township
in Upper Canada
, along with some of his soldiers including William John O’Grady
. Here he built a church and a school, and was appointed justice of the peace
, roads commissioner, and militia colonel. Although identified with the reform movement, Baldwin opposed the rebellion
of 1837 and lead 1,200 men, at his own expense, to protect Niagara
from rebels. In the process, he incurred debts that haunted him the rest of his life.
A distant cousin of Robert Baldwin
, he a was politically outspoken advocate of Irish Catholics, opposing the Orange Order and what was perceived as the conservative
's affinity for it is. His closest allies in this were the bishops Alexander Macdonell
, Michael Power
, and Armand-François-Marie de Charbonnel
. He ran for election as a reform candidate in 1841 in 2nd York riding
against the Orangeman George Duggan
, but withdrew due to the threat of violence. In 1841 he sold his Army commission.
During Toronto's 1847 cholera
epidemic, Baldwin had his home converted into a hospital for the poor.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
soldier and civil servant. When he was fourteen he joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, and two years later, after being deemed medically unfit to serve in that branch, the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. In 1808, as an Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the 87th Foot, he purchased a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
cy in the 83rd Foot
83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot
The 83rd Regiment of Foot was a British Army line infantry regiment. During the Childers Reforms it was united with the 86th Regiment of Foot to form the Royal Ulster Rifles.-Service history:...
. He served in the Peninsular War, where he was wounded four times, and by the end of that conflict was a decorated Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
and the Aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to General
General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
Thomas Picton
Thomas Picton
Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Picton GCB was a Welsh British Army officer who fought in a number of campaigns for Britain, and rose to the rank of lieutenant general...
.
From 1820 to 1826, when he exchanged from the 50th Foot to half-pay, Baldwin served as a Brigade-Major in Britain and the West Indies. Afterward, he helped organise and command a regiment that supported Pedro I of Brazil.
In 1828 he moved to Toronto Gore Township
Toronto Gore Township, Ontario
Toronto Gore was a township in York County and then Peel County, Ontario, Canada from 1831 to 1973.Toronto Gore came into existence as a township in 1831 when it was separated from Chinguacousy Township. In 1867 it became part of Peel County when that county was split from York County...
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...
, along with some of his soldiers including William John O’Grady
William John O’Grady
William John O'Grady was an Irish Catholic priest and journalist in Upper Canada. He served as chaplain to Connell James Baldwin's soldiers in Brazil, and followed him to Toronto Gore Township in 1828. From January 1829 he was pastor of St. Paul's church in York.-References:*Curtis Fahey "" in...
. Here he built a church and a school, and was appointed justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, roads commissioner, and militia colonel. Although identified with the reform movement, Baldwin opposed the rebellion
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:...
of 1837 and lead 1,200 men, at his own expense, to protect Niagara
Niagara Peninsula
The Niagara Peninsula is the portion of Southern Ontario, Canada lying between the south shore of Lake Ontario and the north shore of Lake Erie. It stretches from the Niagara River in the east to Hamilton, Ontario in the west. The population of the peninsula is roughly 1,000,000 people...
from rebels. In the process, he incurred debts that haunted him the rest of his life.
A distant cousin of 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....
, he a was politically outspoken advocate of Irish Catholics, opposing the Orange Order and what was perceived as the conservative
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
's affinity for it is. His closest allies in this were the bishops Alexander Macdonell
Alexander Macdonell (bishop)
Bishop Alexander Macdonell was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Kingston, Upper Canada.-Early years:...
, Michael Power
Michael Power (Canadian bishop)
Michael Power was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Toronto.-Early years:Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada to Captain William Power and Mary Roach. He went to Seminary of St. Sulpice, Montreal and Seminary of Quebec and was ordained a priest in 1827 by Bishop Dubois...
, and Armand-François-Marie de Charbonnel
Armand-François-Marie de Charbonnel
Armand-François-Marie de Charbonnel was the Bishop of Toronto from 1847 to 1860 and the only French and non-English priest to hold the post.-Early years:...
. He ran for election as a reform candidate in 1841 in 2nd York riding
York County, Ontario
York County is a historic county in Upper Canada, Canada West, and the Canadian province of Ontario.York County was created in 1792 and was part of the jurisdiction of Home District of Upper Canada...
against the Orangeman George Duggan
George Duggan
George Duggan was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Canada West.He was born in County Cork, Ireland in 1812 and moved to Upper Canada with his parents. He studied law at York and was called to the bar in 1837. In 1840, he formed a law firm with his brother John...
, but withdrew due to the threat of violence. In 1841 he sold his Army commission.
During Toronto's 1847 cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic, Baldwin had his home converted into a hospital for the poor.