William Bent Berczy
Encyclopedia
William Bent Berczy was a farmer, painter and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in London
England
in 1791, the son of William Berczy
, and came to York (Toronto
) with his family in 1794. He grew up in York, Montreal
and Quebec City
. He served in the Corps of Canadian Chasseurs during the War of 1812
. From 1818 to 1832, he lived on property near Sandwich (Windsor
), where he grew tobacco
. From 1828 to 1834, he represented Kent
in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
. In 1832, he settled on the property at Sainte-Mélanie-d'Ailleboust
of his wife, Louise-Amélie Panet, who had inherited it from her father, seigneur
Pierre-Louis Panet
. Berczy was lieutenant-colonel in the Lower Canada
militia, reaching the rank of colonel.
He died in Sainte-Mélanie-d'Ailleboust in 1873.
Two paintings by Berczy hang in the National Gallery of Canada
, Huron Indians leaving residence near Amherstburg and Blessing of the Fields.
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 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...
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 1791, the son of William Berczy
William Berczy
William Berczy was a German pioneer and painter....
, and came to York (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...
) with his family in 1794. He grew up in York, 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...
and 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...
. He served in the Corps of Canadian Chasseurs 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...
. From 1818 to 1832, he lived on property near 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...
), where he grew tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
. From 1828 to 1834, he represented Kent
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...
. In 1832, he settled on the property at Sainte-Mélanie-d'Ailleboust
Sainte-Mélanie, Quebec
Sainte-Mélanie is a municipality in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada, part of the Joliette Regional County Municipality. It is located along the western shores of the L'Assomption River.-History:...
of his wife, Louise-Amélie Panet, who had inherited it from her father, seigneur
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
Pierre-Louis Panet
Pierre-Louis Panet
Pierre-Louis Panet was a lawyer, notary, seigneur, judge and political figure in Lower Canada.He was born in Montreal in 1761, the son of Pierre Panet. Panet qualified to practice as a lawyer in 1779 and as a notary in 1780. He practiced as a notary at Montreal from 1781 to 1783 and at Quebec City...
. Berczy was lieutenant-colonel in the 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...
militia, reaching the rank of colonel.
He died in Sainte-Mélanie-d'Ailleboust in 1873.
Two paintings by Berczy hang in the National Gallery of Canada
National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada , located in the capital city Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's premier art galleries.The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. The acclaimed structure was...
, Huron Indians leaving residence near Amherstburg and Blessing of the Fields.