MACKENZIE, WILLIAM LYON, 1795-1861; b. in Scotland; emigrated to Canada in 1820, and was employed first on the works of the Lachine canal. In 1824 he became ,editor of the Colonial Advocate, a journal published at Niagara in opposition to the gov ,erning party. He was elected in 1828 to the provincial parliament, but was refused his seat on the ground of disloyalty to the crown. He was re-elected four successive times, until the government refused to issue another writ of election. In 1832 he appealed to the home governinent in England for redress of grievances, carrying with him the peti tions of the Canadian reform party. He was first mayor of Toronto in 1836. In 1837, he headed an armed force in Toronto and demanded of governor Head that a convention should be called to discuss Canadian grievances and reforms, which was not acceded to. He resolved to open the revolution bv seizing arms with a view to arrest the governor and his cabinet, and to declare Canada a republic. But his force was insufficient. The government troops drove him from Montgomery hill, near the city, Dec. 7, 1837, and
after some skirmishing forced him to retire to Navy Island, in the Niagara river. From this safe retreat, within the limits of the United States, lie issued a proclamation for volunteers, offerin,r lands—to the value of $100 to $300—in Canada, when the revolution should be succesdul. Some American synipathizers joined him. and a larger number of Irish. The Canadian government outlawed him, and the U. S. government took steps to stop his violation of American soil for war on Canada. He was arrested by gen. Scott's order and sentenced to 12 months' confinement in the Rochester jail. When again at liberty he became a contributor to the New York Trxbune, and his vigorous pen was always interesting if not instructive. In 1849 the Canadian government published a general amnesty. Mackenzie at once returned to Canada, was elected to parliament, where lie made a useful member, and on bis retirement from that body, until his death, published a weekly journal entitled Ilfackenties Message.