François Baby (politician)
Encyclopedia
François Baby was a soldier, political figure and businessman in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Detroit in 1768, the son of Jacques Baby
and nephew of François Baby
. Although Roman Catholic
and French Canadian
, he belonged to one of the richest and most powerful families in the Western District of Upper Canada at that time. In 1792, he was elected to represent Kent County
in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
.
He joined the British
forces during the War of 1812
and was captured by the Americans
in 1814. Also during the war, Baby's newly-constructed house at Sandwich (Windsor
) was taken over by invading American troops. On his return, he discovered that his home had been plundered and damaged; he did not feel that he was adequately compensated.
In 1820, he was elected to the legislative assembly representing Essex
. Although connected with the elite, he supported moderate reformers. Baby also was an early proponent of bilingualism
, requesting that the acts of the legislature be translated into French
. He opposed the union of Upper and Lower Canada
.
During the 1840s, he operated a ferry service between Windsor and Detroit.
He died in Windsor in 1852.
The François Baby House
now serves as Windsor's Community Museum
.
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...
.
He was born in Detroit in 1768, the son of Jacques Baby
Jacques Baby
Jacques Baby, dit Dupéron was a Canadian fur trader and an employee of the British Indian Department.He was born in Montreal in 1731. He was a trader and Indian agent at Logstown, near the current location of Ambridge, Pennsylvania. After the fall of New France in 1760, he refused to swear...
and nephew of François Baby
François Baby (businessman)
François Baby was a Canadian businessman, militia officer, and politician.François Baby was born in Montreal to Raymond Baby and Thérèse Le Compte Dupré. He came from a family of fur traders. His father was a fur trader who had been sufficiently successful before his death, four years after...
. Although Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
, he belonged to one of the richest and most powerful families in the Western District of Upper Canada at that time. In 1792, he was elected to represent Kent County
Kent County, Ontario
Kent County, area 2,458 sq km is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. Population in 2006 was 108,589.The county was created in 1792 and named by John Graves Simcoe in honour of the English County. The county is in an alluvial plain between Lake St...
in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
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...
.
He joined the British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
forces during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and was captured by the Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1814. Also during the war, Baby's newly-constructed house at Sandwich (Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
) was taken over by invading American troops. On his return, he discovered that his home had been plundered and damaged; he did not feel that he was adequately compensated.
In 1820, he was elected to the legislative assembly representing Essex
Essex County, Ontario
Essex County is a county and census division located in Southwestern Ontario and covers an area at the southernmost tip of Canada. The administrative seat is Essex...
. Although connected with the elite, he supported moderate reformers. Baby also was an early proponent of bilingualism
Bilingualism in Canada
The official languages of Canada are English and French, which "have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and Government of Canada" according to Canada's constitution...
, requesting that the acts of the legislature be translated into French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. He opposed the union of Upper and Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
.
During the 1840s, he operated a ferry service between Windsor and Detroit.
He died in Windsor in 1852.
The François Baby House
François Baby House
The François Bâby House is a historic residence located in Windsor, Ontario Canada which was owned by the prominent local politician François Baby. The house was known as La Ferme locally, and was a French-Canadian ribbon farm which was a long narrow tract fronting endwise on the Detroit River...
now serves as Windsor's Community Museum
Windsor's Community Museum
Windsor Community Museum is a historical museum located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada which displays the city's rich and colourful past. It is located in the historic François Baby House, built in 1812 by François Baby, a prominent French-Canadian .The Museum was originally named the Hiram Walker...
.
Timeline
- 1768 - December 16. Born in the British town of Detroit, a son of Jacques Du Perron Baby and Suzanne Reaume.
- 1786 - Completed his education at Quebec.
- 1792–1796 - Still a resident of Detroit, represented Kent CountyKent County, OntarioKent County, area 2,458 sq km is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. Population in 2006 was 108,589.The county was created in 1792 and named by John Graves Simcoe in honour of the English County. The county is in an alluvial plain between Lake St...
, Upper Canada, in the Legislative AssemblyLegislative AssemblyLegislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
following the province's first election. Detroit was British-occupied American territory at the time. - 1794 - July. Appointed captain of a company of French-Canadian militia.
- 1795 - September 5. Married Frances Abbott of Detroit, in Assumption ChurchOur Lady of the Assumption (Windsor, Ontario)- History :Our Lady of the Assumption, currently located at 350 Huron Church Road in Windsor, Ontario, is the oldest continuous parish in Ontario....
on the Canadian side of the river. - 1807 - October. Appointed Lieutenant of the County of Essex.
- 1812–1813 - Appointed assistant quartermaster general of militia for the Western District. Served throughout the Detroit River campaign and was recommended by Sir Gordon Drummond for decoration for valuable services.
- 1813 - December 30. Participated in a British attack on Black Rock, Niagara Frontier.
- 1814 - January 31. Captured by Americans at Delaware, Upper Canada.
- 1820–1830 - Member for Essex CountyEssex County, OntarioEssex County is a county and census division located in Southwestern Ontario and covers an area at the southernmost tip of Canada. The administrative seat is Essex...
in the Upper Canada Legislative Assembly. - c.CircaCirca , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1832 - Subdivided the frontage of his farm. The first Urban Development in what was to become Windsor. - 1842 - Had ferryboat "Alliance" built.
- 1849 - Gave land for present day Ferry Street to the public, replacing an earlier lane which had served as access to a ferry landing.
- 1852 - Died age 84. Buried in Assumption Churchyard.