William Benjamin Wells
Encyclopedia
William Benjamin Wells was a lawyer, judge, journalist and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Augusta Township
in Upper Canada in 1809. He studied law with Marshall Spring Bidwell
in Kingston
and was called to the bar in 1833. In 1834, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
representing Grenville
as a Reformer
. Although he was reelected in 1836, he travelled to England
to protest the interference by Sir Francis Bond Head
in the election. He wrote Canadiana: containing sketches of Upper Canada, and the crisis in its political affairs, which described radical Reform policies of the time. He did not involve himself in the Upper Canada Rebellion
; however, allegations of his involvement with William Lyon Mackenzie
's Patriots led to his expulsion from the assembly.
In 1851, he was appointed district court judge in Kent County
. He retired from the bench in 1878. He contributed articles on law and sport to various periodicals in Canada and the United States
.
He died at Toronto in 1881.
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 Augusta Township
Augusta, Ontario
Augusta is a township in eastern Ontario, Canada, on the Saint Lawrence River in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.-Communities:The township comprises the communities of Algonquin, Bisseltown, Blue Church, Charlieville, Domville, Garretton, Glenmore, Herrons Corners, Lords Mills, Maitland,...
in Upper Canada in 1809. He studied law with Marshall Spring Bidwell
Marshall Spring Bidwell
Marshall Spring Bidwell was a lawyer and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts in 1799, the son of Barnabas Bidwell. His family settled in Bath in Upper Canada before the War of 1812. He studied with a law firm in Kingston and was called to the Ontario Bar in...
in Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
and was called to the bar in 1833. In 1834, he was elected to 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...
representing Grenville
Grenville County, Ontario
Grenville County area is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.The county was created in 1792, and named in honour of William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville, Secretary of State in 1790. The First settlers were Loyalist from the United States...
as a Reformer
Reform Party (pre-Confederation)
The Reform movement, sometimes referred to as the Reform Party, began in the 1830s as the movement in the English speaking parts of British North America . It agitated for responsible government....
. Although he was reelected in 1836, he travelled to 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...
to protest the interference by Sir Francis Bond Head
Francis Bond Head
Sir Francis Bond Head, 1st Baronet KCH PC , known as "Galloping Head", was Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada during the rebellion of 1837.-Biography:...
in the election. He wrote Canadiana: containing sketches of Upper Canada, and the crisis in its political affairs, which described radical Reform policies of the time. He did not involve himself in the Upper Canada 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:...
; however, allegations of his involvement 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...
's Patriots led to his expulsion from the assembly.
In 1851, he was appointed district court judge in 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...
. He retired from the bench in 1878. He contributed articles on law and sport to various periodicals in Canada and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He died at Toronto in 1881.