William Chisholm (Upper Canada politician), Date of Birth, Date of Death
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Canadian politician
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About William Chisholm (Upper Canada politician)
- William Chisholm (October 15, 1788 – May 4, 1842) was a farmer, businessman and political figure in Upper Canada. He was born in Jordan Bay, Nova Scotia in 1788, the son of a Scottish immigrant and United Empire Loyalist who originally settled in Tryon County, New York.
- The family moved to Upper Canada and settled near the current site of the city of Hamilton.
- William served in the York militia during the War of 1812 and became colonel in 1831.
- He settled in Nelson Township in 1816. In 1820, Chisholm was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada for Halton.
- He was originally a Reformer and opposed the expulsion of Barnabas Bidwell from the assembly.
- He had supported Robert Gourlay and he acted as an agent for William Lyon Mackenzie's newspaper, the Colonial Advocate.
- He had opened a general store and later also ran an inn; he also was a lumber merchant.
- In 1825, he was named postmaster for Nelson Township.
- By 1826, he had a change of heart politically and he later helped put down the revolt at Montgomery's Tavern. In 1827, Chisholm purchased a large land reserve formerly held for the Mississaugas; he began planning the town of Oakville and set up a shipyard and harbour there.
- He was appointed justice of the peace in the Gore District in 1829.
- He was reelected in Halton in 1830 and 1836.
- In the town of Oakville, Chisholm owned the first tavern, sawmill and grist mill and served as postmaster and customs collector there.
- He died at Oakville in 1842. His sons continued to be prominent in the town of Oakville: George King became the town's first mayor in 1857. Robert Kerr later served as postmaster and customs collector at Oakville and also served a term as mayor in 1866.
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