Thomas Ryan (Quebec politician)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Ryan was a Quebec
businessman and political figure. He was a Liberal-Conservative member of the Senate of Canada for Victoria division from 1867 to 1889.
He was born in Ballinakill
, County Kildare
, Ireland in 1804 and studied at Clongowes Wood College
. Ryan went into the wholesale business at Quebec City
in Lower Canada
with his brother Edward and later became an agent for Baring Brothers, a commercial banking firm based in London. Around 1849, he became involved in operating steamboat
s; he helped form the Canadian Steam Navigation Company in 1853 and later served as a director of the Richelieu and Ontario Navigation Company. Ryan was a director of the Bank of Montreal
and served as vice-president for the bank. He was elected president of the Montreal Board of Trade in 1849 and 1850. Ryan was also an active member of the Irish Catholic
community in Montreal. He served as lieutenant-colonel in the local militia and served as consul for France, Denmark, Lübeck, Bremen
and Hamburg
at Montreal
from 1855 to 1861. He was elected to the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
for Victoria division in 1863 and was named to the Senate after Confederation
.
He died in office at Montreal in 1889.
His brother John B. was a Lower Canada businessman who took part in the Lower Canada Rebellion
.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
businessman and political figure. He was a Liberal-Conservative member of the Senate of Canada for Victoria division from 1867 to 1889.
He was born in Ballinakill
Ballinakill
Ballinakill is a small village in County Laois, Ireland on the R432 regional road between Abbeyleix, Ballyragget and Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny-Landmarks:...
, County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland in 1804 and studied at Clongowes Wood College
Clongowes Wood College
Clongowes Wood College is a voluntary secondary boarding school for boys, located near Clane in County Kildare, Ireland. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1814, it is one of Ireland's oldest Catholic schools, and featured prominently in James Joyce's semi-autobiographical novel A Portrait of the...
. Ryan went into the wholesale business at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in 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...
with his brother Edward and later became an agent for Baring Brothers, a commercial banking firm based in London. Around 1849, he became involved in operating steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
s; he helped form the Canadian Steam Navigation Company in 1853 and later served as a director of the Richelieu and Ontario Navigation Company. Ryan was a director of the Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
and served as vice-president for the bank. He was elected president of the Montreal Board of Trade in 1849 and 1850. Ryan was also an active member of the Irish 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...
community in Montreal. He served as lieutenant-colonel in the local militia and served as consul for France, Denmark, Lübeck, Bremen
Bremen (state)
The Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is the smallest of Germany's 16 states. A more informal name, but used in some official contexts, is Land Bremen .-Geography:...
and Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
at Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
from 1855 to 1861. He was elected to the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Council of the Province of Canada was the upper house 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 province of Ontario...
for Victoria division in 1863 and was named to the Senate after Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
.
He died in office at Montreal in 1889.
His brother John B. was a Lower Canada businessman who took part in the Lower Canada Rebellion
Lower Canada Rebellion
The Lower Canada Rebellion , commonly referred to as the Patriots' War by Quebeckers, is the name given to the armed conflict between the rebels of Lower Canada and the British colonial power of that province...
.