William Rhodes (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
William Rhodes was a soldier, farmer and political figure in Quebec
. He represented Mégantic
in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
from 1854 to 1858 as a Reformer and in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
from 1888 to 1890 as a Liberal.
He was born at Bramhope Hall in Yorkshire, England, the son of William Rhodes and Ann Smith. Rhodes entered the British Army
in 1838 and served in Canada East
from 1842 to 1844. In 1847, he retired from the army as a captain and settled near Sillery
, Canada East. In the same year, he married Anne Catherine Dunn, who was the granddaughter of Thomas Dunn and Mathew Bell
. Rhodes was one of the founders of the Union Bank of Lower Canada. He was president of the Quebec Bridge Company, the North Shore Railway, the Quebec and Trois-Pistoles Railway and the Quebec and Richmond Railway. Rhodes was also president of the Quebec Geographical Society, a justice of the peace
and a lieutenant in the militia. He served in the Quebec cabinet as Commissioner of Agriculture and Colonization. Rhodes was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1890. He died at home in Sillery at the age of 70.
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....
. He represented Mégantic
Mégantic (provincial electoral district)
Mégantic was a provincial electoral district in the province of Quebec, Canada. Located in the Estrie region, it was created in 1867. After the 1970 elections, it was merged with Compton to create the new riding of Mégantic-Compton...
in 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...
from 1854 to 1858 as a Reformer and in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
Legislative Assembly of Quebec
The Legislative Assembly of Quebec was the name of the lower house of Quebec's legislature until 1968, when it was renamed the National Assembly of Quebec. At the same time, the upper house of the legislature, the Legislative Council, was abolished...
from 1888 to 1890 as a Liberal.
He was born at Bramhope Hall in Yorkshire, England, the son of William Rhodes and Ann Smith. Rhodes entered the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 1838 and served in Canada East
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....
from 1842 to 1844. In 1847, he retired from the army as a captain and settled near Sillery
Sillery, Quebec
Sillery is a former city in central Quebec, Canada. Located just west of old Quebec City, Sillery was among the many outlying municipalities amalgamated into an expanded Quebec City on January 1, 2002. Its former territory now forms part of the new Borough of Sainte-Foy—Sillery—Cap-Rouge...
, Canada East. In the same year, he married Anne Catherine Dunn, who was the granddaughter of Thomas Dunn and Mathew Bell
Mathew Bell
Mathew Bell was a seigneur, businessman and political figure in Lower Canada. His first name is also sometimes recorded as Matthew....
. Rhodes was one of the founders of the Union Bank of Lower Canada. He was president of the Quebec Bridge Company, the North Shore Railway, the Quebec and Trois-Pistoles Railway and the Quebec and Richmond Railway. Rhodes was also president of the Quebec Geographical Society, a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and a lieutenant in the militia. He served in the Quebec cabinet as Commissioner of Agriculture and Colonization. Rhodes was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1890. He died at home in Sillery at the age of 70.