MACKENZIE, WILLIAM LYON ( 1795-1561 ) . Leader of the rebellion of 1837-38 in Upper Canada. He was born at Dundee, Scotland, but in 1820 emigrated to Canada and settled first at York (Toronto) and later at Queenstown. where he opened a bookstore, and in 1824 began the publication of a newspaper entitled the colonial Advocate, in which he fiercely assailed the Gov eminent. He soon afterwards removed to York. the capital of Upper Canada, where he made him self a political factor. In 1528 he was elected to the Legislature. In 1830 he was reelected, but the Assembly refused to receive him on account of an alleged libel on the Ministry. Ile was then thrice reeleeted and each time expelled. The Gov ernment then, to prevent a recurrence of the trouble. refused to issue writs for another elec tion. In 1829 he visited the United States, and in 1532 he was sent to England as the delegate of his party to secure the redress of certain abu-es and the removal of certain officials—a mission which he successfully accomplished. After his re turn he was, in 1S34. chosen the first Mayor of the city of Toronto, formerly the town of York, and in the following October was again elected to the Assembly, where, his party being now in the majority, he was regularly seated. Two months later, December 9, 1834, he founded the Canadian Alliance Society, through the instrumentality of which he hoped to effect his reforms. Meantime he acted as chairman of a committee of griev ances appointed by the Assembly, and this com mittee submitted a report complaining among various things of the extent of the patronage of the Crown and of the small share which the Leg islature had in disposing of the revenues. One of the results of this report was the recall of the Governor, Sir John Colborne. Meanwhile a large element of the French inhabitants of Lower Canada were organizing in opposition to the British regime. and in 1S35 Mackenzie was sent by his party to visit their leader. Louis J. Papi neau (q.v.). In 1836 Mackenzie failed of re election to the Assembly, and from this time events moved rapidly in the direction of rebellion. The Colonial Advocate had not appeared since 1834, but in 1837 Mackenzie started a new paper, the Constitution, in which he advocated violent measures, applauded the people of Lower Canada, who were on the brink of open insurrection. and
on August 2d published the Declaration of the Reformers of Toronto to The it Fellow I?, fo•mo •s in Lower Canada, which has been called the declaration of independence of Upper Canada. On -November 25. 1837, Mackenzie proclaimed the establishment of a provisional government. Soon afterwards between seven and eight hundred gathered under his leadership for the purpose of marching on the capital and setting up an inde pendent government, but delays gave the Gov ernor, Sir Francis Bond Head, time to prepare for defense, so that when they finally did advance. they were met on the evening of December 5th by a small body of loyalists. who fired one volley, whe rentom both sides retreated at full speed. the Governitr marched out at the head of his forces and attacked the Reformers at Alontgomery's Farm, and after a brief engagement utterly defeated them. :Mackenzie (-reaped to the tic ted States, where he found many sym pathizers• and with their help set about organiz ing an expedition, establishing his headquarters on Navy Island in the Niagara River. Nut long afterwards, while in 'hat he was arrested for violating the neutrality laws of the United States, was convicted. and was imprisoned at I:oche:Ater until pardoned on 10, 1840. After his re lea.se he was employed in the New York Custom llonse, and later on the NeW fork Tribune. IIn February 1, 1849, the Canadian Government granted a general amnesty to all who had taken part in the rebellion, and Mackenzie thorn re united to Toronto and was once more elected to the Legislature, in which he served front 1850 to Iti5S. Among his publications are: Sketches of Canada and the United Niairs (183:3) ; Lives and Opinions of Benjamin Franklin 'Italic,. and Jcsar Hoyt is45) ; and Life and Time of Martin Van Buren Ctnsult: Lindsay, Life and of William. Lyon Marken:4r (Toronto, 1462): Dent, ,`+iory of the rpm r Canadian Rebel lion (Toronto, 1885) : and Ilead, The Canadian Rebellion of l8.17 (Toronto, 18913).