James Hervey Price
Encyclopedia
James Hervey Price was an attorney and political figure in Canada East
.
He was born in Cumberland
, England
in 1797, studied law at Doctors' Commons
in London
and came to Upper Canada
in 1828 with his wife Elizabeth Anne Rubergall. He settled in York Township. He studied law with George Rolph
and William Henry Draper
and was admitted to practice as an attorney in 1833. He was appointed city clerk for Toronto
in 1834. Price helped found the Bank of the People
in 1835 and served as its solicitor. In 1836, he was elected to city council. He was arrested in 1837 because he was suspected of having been involved with William Lyon Mackenzie
but freed two weeks later.
In 1841, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
for the 1st riding of York as a Reformer. He criticized Governor Metcalfe for ignoring the executive council's advice in making patronage appointments. Price was commissioner of crown lands from 1848 to 1851. He supported the Rebellion Losses Bill
and the secularization of the clergy reserves.
Price left Toronto in 1860 and settled near Bath in England. He died at Shirley near Southampton
in 1882.
His wife's sister Mary Ann married Jesse Ketchum
, who was a member of the legislative assembly of Upper Canada.
Canada East
Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region....
.
He was born in Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1797, studied law at Doctors' Commons
Doctors' Commons
Doctors' Commons, also called the College of Civilians, was a society of lawyers practising civil law in London. Like the Inns of Court of the common lawyers, the society had buildings with rooms where its members lived and worked, and a large library...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and came to 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...
in 1828 with his wife Elizabeth Anne Rubergall. He settled in York Township. He studied law with George Rolph
George Rolph
George Rolph was a lawyer and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, England in 1794 and came to Upper Canada with his family around 1808. He studied law in York . He served as lieutenant in the local militia during the War of 1812. He lived in Vittoria...
and William Henry Draper
William Henry Draper
William Henry Draper was a lawyer, judge, and politician in Upper Canada later Canada West.-Personal life:...
and was admitted to practice as an attorney in 1833. He was appointed city clerk for 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...
in 1834. Price helped found the Bank of the People
Bank of the People
The Bank of the People was created from the defection of investors from Farmer's Bank in 1835. Sir Francis Hincks, head cashier at the Farmer's Bank, became cashier at the new bank. A “Provincial Loan Office” in which farmers could borrow small sums guaranteed by their land holdings became the...
in 1835 and served as its solicitor. In 1836, he was elected to city council. He was arrested in 1837 because he was suspected of having been involved with 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...
but freed two weeks later.
In 1841, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house of the legislature for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the...
for the 1st riding of York as a Reformer. He criticized Governor Metcalfe for ignoring the executive council's advice in making patronage appointments. Price was commissioner of crown lands from 1848 to 1851. He supported the Rebellion Losses Bill
Rebellion Losses Bill
The Rebellion Losses Bill was a controversial law enacted by the legislature of the Province of Canada in 1849...
and the secularization of the clergy reserves.
Price left Toronto in 1860 and settled near Bath in England. He died at Shirley near Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
in 1882.
His wife's sister Mary Ann married Jesse Ketchum
Jesse Ketchum
Jesse Ketchum was a tanner and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Spencertown, New York in 1782. After his mother died, he was taken into a foster home; his foster father was a tanner. He ran away from home in 1799 and joined his brother Seneca, who was farming north of York in Upper...
, who was a member of the legislative assembly of Upper Canada.