William Robertson (ca 1760 – December 3, 1806) was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada.
He was born at Monymusk, near Aberdeen in Scotland[1] around 1760 and settled in Detroit (then part of Quebec) in 1782. By 1788, he was an important merchant in the fur trade in the area and he was appointed to the district court and land board of the Hesse District of Upper Canada. Robertson resigned from his position as judge because he felt he was not qualified. In July 1792, he was appointed to the Executive Council and Legislative Council of Upper Canada. He resigned both offices in November, possibly because he believed that his business interests kept him too occupied.[citation needed]
He had close business ties to Robert Hamilton, who had married his brother Samuel's widow, Catherine Askin, in 1785. He also held a number of contracts to supply garrisons in Upper Canada. Robertson moved to Montreal in 1797. After the death of his first wife in 1800, he returned to Great Britain and in 1803 married again, but this marriage lasted only a few months.
In 1795, Robertson was part of a partnership with Ebenezer Allen and Charles Whitney of Vermont, Robert Randall of Philadelphia and several other British subjects in Detroit, including Catherine Askin's father, John Askin, which planned to buy the entire lower Michigan peninsula from the United States government.[2]
He died in London, England in 1806. His fortune eventually passed to his only great-grandchild Lucy Harris née Ronalds who lived in Eldon House, London, Ontario.[1]
References
^ abRonalds, BF (2019). "Before Eldon House: Lucy Ronalds Harris' Background & Upbringing". London and Middlesex Historian. 27: 44–55.
^"Account of a Plot for Obtaining the Lower Peninsula of Michigan from the United States in 1795 by J. V. Campbell". Collections of the Pioneer Society of the State of Michigan together with Reports of County Pioneer Societies, Vol VIII (second ed.). Lansing, Mich.: Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford. 1907 [1886]. pp. 406–411. Retrieved October 15, 2006.
External links
Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
February 12, 2023
william, robertson, western, quebec, upper, canada, this, article, about, canadian, politician, other, people, same, name, william, robertson, disambiguation, william, robertson, 1760, december, 1806, businessman, political, figure, upper, canada, born, monymu. This article is about the Canadian politician For other people of the same name see William Robertson disambiguation William Robertson ca 1760 December 3 1806 was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada He was born at Monymusk near Aberdeen in Scotland 1 around 1760 and settled in Detroit then part of Quebec in 1782 By 1788 he was an important merchant in the fur trade in the area and he was appointed to the district court and land board of the Hesse District of Upper Canada Robertson resigned from his position as judge because he felt he was not qualified In July 1792 he was appointed to the Executive Council and Legislative Council of Upper Canada He resigned both offices in November possibly because he believed that his business interests kept him too occupied citation needed He had close business ties to Robert Hamilton who had married his brother Samuel s widow Catherine Askin in 1785 He also held a number of contracts to supply garrisons in Upper Canada Robertson moved to Montreal in 1797 After the death of his first wife in 1800 he returned to Great Britain and in 1803 married again but this marriage lasted only a few months In 1795 Robertson was part of a partnership with Ebenezer Allen and Charles Whitney of Vermont Robert Randall of Philadelphia and several other British subjects in Detroit including Catherine Askin s father John Askin which planned to buy the entire lower Michigan peninsula from the United States government 2 He died in London England in 1806 His fortune eventually passed to his only great grandchild Lucy Harris nee Ronalds who lived in Eldon House London Ontario 1 References Edit a b Ronalds BF 2019 Before Eldon House Lucy Ronalds Harris Background amp Upbringing London and Middlesex Historian 27 44 55 Account of a Plot for Obtaining the Lower Peninsula of Michigan from the United States in 1795 by J V Campbell Collections of the Pioneer Society of the State of Michigan together with Reports of County Pioneer Societies Vol VIII second ed Lansing Mich Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford 1907 1886 pp 406 411 Retrieved October 15 2006 External links EditBiography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Robertson Western Quebec and Upper Canada amp oldid 1134808520, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
