William Chisholm (Upper Canada politician)

'''William Chisholm''' (October 15, 1788 – May 4, 1842) was a farmer, businessman and political figure in [[Upper Canada]].

'''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|Jordan Bay]], [[Nova Scotia]] in 1788, the son of a [[Scotland|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, Ontario|Hamilton]]. William served in the [[York Militia|York militia]] during the [[War of 1812]] and became colonel in 1831. He settled in [[Nelson, Ontario|Nelson Township]] in 1816.

Chisholm was born in [[Jordan Bay, Nova Scotia|Jordan Bay]], [[Nova Scotia]] in 1788, the son of a [[Scottish people|Scottish]] immigrant and [[United Empire Loyalist]] who originally settled in Tryon County, New York. By 1793, the family moved to [[Upper Canada]] and settled near Burlington Bay, the current site of the city of [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]].

In 1811, he was commissioned as an ensign in the [[2nd Regiment of York Militia|2nd York Militia]]. While serving under Captain Samuel Hatt of the 5th [[Lincoln Militia]] at the occupation of Detroit during the [[War of 1812]], William was chosen to replace the [[Flag of the United States|American flag]] with the [[Union Jack]] at [[Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit|Fort Detroit]], in which he was later awarded the [[General Service Medal (Canada)|General Service Medal]].

In 1820, Chisholm was elected to the [[Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada]] for [[Halton County, Ontario|Halton]]. He was originally a [[Reform Party (pre-Confederation)|Reformer]] and opposed the expulsion of [[Barnabas Bidwell]] from the assembly. He had supported [[Robert Fleming Gourlay|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 was also a lumber merchant. In 1825, he was named [[postmaster]] for Nelson Township. By 1826, he had a change of heart politically, and by 1837, he helped put down the revolt at [[Confrontation at Montgomery's Tavern|Montgomery's Tavern]] during the [[Upper Canada Rebellion]].

In 1820, Chisholm was elected to the [[Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada]] for [[Halton County, Ontario|Halton]]. He was originally a [[Reform Party (pre-Confederation)|Reformer]] and opposed the expulsion of [[Barnabas Bidwell]] from the assembly. He had supported [[Robert Fleming Gourlay|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 was also a lumber merchant. In 1825, he was named [[postmaster]] for Nelson Township. By 1826, he had a change of heart politically, and by 1837, he helped put down the revolt at [[Confrontation at Montgomery's Tavern|Montgomery's Tavern]] during the [[Upper Canada Rebellion]].