Events from the year 1808 in Canada.
Incumbents Monarch: George III
Federal government Parliament of Lower Canada: 4th (until April 27) Parliament of Upper Canada: 4th (until March 16)
Governors Governor of the Canadas: Robert Milnes Governor of New Brunswick: Thomas Carleton Governor of Nova Scotia: John Wentworth Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: John Holloway Governor of Prince Edward Island: Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres
Events David Thompson explores Kootenay River. Simon Fraser follows Fraser River to the Pacific. The American Fur Company is chartered by John Jacob Astor to compete with Canadian fur trade The Upper Canada Militia Act 1808 states that all males between ages of sixteen and sixty are required to enroll as militiamen and are to be called out once a year for exercises The Legislative Assembly of Quebec criticizes the swearing-in of Ezekiel Hart because he is of Jewish faith, and votes his expulsion.
Births April – Charles Wilson, politician (d.1877) April 7 – John Langton, businessman, political figure and civil servant (d.1894) April 10 – William Annand, 2nd Premier of Nova Scotia (d.1887) April 25 – Malcolm Cameron, businessman and politician (d.1876) August 15 or September 16 – Charles Fisher, politician and 1st Premier of the Colony of New Brunswick (d.1880) September 14 – Edwin Atwater, businessperson and municipal politician (d.1874) October 20 – Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau, lawyer, businessman and politician (d.1894)
Deaths November 10 : Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, military and governor Peter Russell (politician), judge
Historical documents Treasury Secretary tells President Jefferson that unless there's change in European affairs, "I see no alternative but war. But with whom?"Letter to Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin (August 3, 1808), U.S. National Archives. Accessed 26 September 2024
British newspaper reports 5,000 troops are on transports at Portsmouth to sail to North America accompanied by 5 ships of the line"The fleet of Transports[....]" ("Feb. 2"), The Quebec Gazette, April 7, 1808 pg. 2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also word that Gen. George Prevost has arrived in Halifax with 3,000 men, and also word as of March 15 in England (pg. 2 (3rd column) that there would be "no rupture with America") Accessed 29 August 2024
British foreword to U.S. pamphlet labels "affairs of the United States" important since U.S. became commercial rivals and "challengers in war""The Advertisement to This Edition" The British Treaty (1808). Accessed 13 September 2024
U.S. embargo on trade has given Canada and Nova Scotia sole access to Europe and West Indies, formerly markets of northern states"Portland, Monday, August 1, 1808; When Mr. Jefferson and his party[....]," Portland (Maine) Gazette, and Maine Advertiser (August 1, 1808), pg. 3, column 1 Library of Congress. (See also letter from New York City saying 150 shipping workers have left for Nova Scotia and many others might, and also Massachusetts Sen. Timothy Pickering's Senate speech criticizing embargo, plus other criticism, including here and here) Accessed 12 September 2024
Embargo means Canadas' "commercial intercourse with the States must increase," as will ship construction and trade in hemp and naval stores"But it becomes an object of serious consideration[....]," The Quebec Mercury, January 18, 1808 pg. 23 (centre column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also report of several shipments from U.S. into Canada, and also report of flour and other cargo delivered by U.S. vessels to British ships for export to Caribbean) Accessed 17 September 2024
Total 116 British ships of the line (2 in North America) along with 50-gun warships are naval force "superior to that of the whole world beside""British Navy," The Quebec Gazette, July 14, 1808 pg. 2 (3rd column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 23 September 2024
John Jacob Astor seeks approval of U.S. government to take continental fur trade away from CanadaLetter to Thomas Jefferson from John Jacob Astor (February 27, 1808), U.S. National Archives. Accessed 26 September 2024
Lower Canada Lower Town Quebec City deserves proper fire insurance coverage because its layout relative to winds and river make it less vulnerable to fire"The Quebec Gazette; Quebec: Thursday, December 1, 1808; On Saturday morning last[....]," The Quebec Gazette, December 1, 1808 pg. 2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also further details (pg. 1, 4th column) on subject of Lower Town and fire) Accessed 23 September 2024
House of Assembly committee reports that provincial bank would reduce loss of specie in unfavourable balance of trade with U.S.A."Mr. Richardson from the Committee[....]" (March 4, 1808), Journal of the House of Assembly, Lower-Canada (1808), pgs. 226, 228 (See also that "The order of the day(...)" to send bank bill to Committee of the Whole is discharged and order made to print 400 copies of bill for distribution; also see report to President-elect Madison that much specie passes along lower Hudson River road to Canada) Accessed 17 September 2024
Defeated candidate in Assembly election in Trois-Rivières petitions it not to seat winner Ezekiel Hart as he is Jewish and can't take oath"A petition of Thomas Coffin[....]" (February 10, 1808), Journal of the House of Assembly, Lower-Canada (1808), pg. 60 (See also Hart's petition to be admitted (later denied by Assembly vote), and letters to the editor supporting Hart here (pg. 55, left column) and here (pg. 58, left column) and here (pg. 70, left column)) Accessed 16 September 2024
Assembly passes "An Act for disabling Judges from being elected, or from sitting and voting in the House of Assembly" (defeated in Council)"Resolved, That the Bill do pass[....]" (March 4, 1808), Journal of the House of Assembly, Lower-Canada (1808), pg. 232 (See also note (pg. 103, centre column) that "the bill for disqualifying the Judges from sitting" in Assembly was defeated in Council) Accessed 17 September 2024
Winner of Assembly seat for Huntingdon County thanks voters for seeing through rival's "falsehoods, the most gross and most barefaced""To the Free and Generous Electors[....]" (June 6, 1808), The Quebec Gazette, June 9, 1808 pg. 2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also June 14 notice (pg. 6, centre column bottom) to Panet and others of their dismissal from militia because suspected to be "Proprietors of a Seditious and Libellous publication") Accessed 23 September 2024
To be established: "An Academy for the instruction of all Members [elected] to serve in the ensuing House of Assembly" who can't read or write"Advertisement," The Quebec Mercury, May 23, 1808 pg. 166, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 18 September 2024
Vermont town meetings are being held to seek embargo repeal, which would be better than exporting timber by force on Lake Champlain"Vermont and Non-Importation" The Quebec Mercury, September 5, 1808 pg. 285, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also description (pg. 2, 3rd column) of firing on timber raft near border) Accessed 19 September 2024
Young Army officers are advised to play billiards to learn "dislodging[...]an enemy; taking a secure position; making famous coups de main" etc."Mr. Cary" The Quebec Mercury, November 28, 1808 pgs. 378–9, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 20 September 2024
Dancing teacher will show children "the present style of dancing, conceiving it of no utility to [teach] steps and figures of the Old School""Fashionable Dancing" (August 22, 1808), The Quebec Mercury, September 12, 1808 pg. 296, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 19 September 2024
Aging bachelor who "dislikes contradiction and has been accustomed to have his own way" seeks patient, calm, middle-age woman housekeeper"Wanted," The Quebec Mercury, August 29, 1808 pg. 279, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 19 September 2024
Upper Canada Beginning five years of study with lawyer, Sandwich man tells his brother of local "apprehensions of war" with U.S.A."News from Detroit" (April 28, 1808), The John Askin Papers; Volume II: 1796-1820 (1931), pgs. 599-601. Accessed 30 September 2024
Isaac Brock is alerted to U.S. troop movements to Detroit and Great Lakes, and capture of British boats carrying supplies to Indigenous people"From Robert Nichol to Brigadier General Brock" (May 21, 1808), Records of Niagara No. 42 : 1805-1811 pgs. 42–3, York University Digital Library. (See also letter immediately following for details of attack on supply boats) Accessed 24 September 2024
Lt.-Gov. Gore sent for because of Indigenous people's "very violent resolutions" on blockage of their annual supplies by U.S. officials"Queennstown [sic], Upper Canada, June 16," The Quebec Gazette, July 14, 1808 pg. 2 (2nd column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 23 September 2024
(Probably) John Norton's ideas for increasing financial support for Indigenous peoples on Grand River and moving them to reserve near Lake Huron"The following letter[....]" (August 10, 1808), Records of Niagara No. 42 : 1805-1811 pgs. 64–8, York University Digital Library. Accessed 24 September 2024
Elite grammar school in Cornwall affords excellent education "without endangering the morals of the pupils by the contagion of the vices of a city""Cornwall Academy," The Quebec Mercury, August 22, 1808 pg. 269, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 19 September 2024
Lake Erie Anglican mission reports "900 Papists, 200 Protestants, Professors of the Church 150, Scotch Dissenters 50 [and 5,000] Heathens and Infidels""An Abstract of the Proceedings of the Society; Upper and Lower Canada; The Rev. Mr. Pollard, Missionary at Sandwich[....]," A Sermon Preached before the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts[....] (1808), pgs. 41–2 Accessed 13 September 2024
Parishioners' contract in call to minister in Williamsburg township details his duties and annual salary, food supplies and firewood"Call from the St. Lawrence Evangelical Lutheran Parish to John Gunther Weagant, March 1, 1808" Wilfrid Laurier University Archives & Special Collections. Accessed 24 September 2024
"Be not puffed up nor exalted one above another" - in meekness and diffidence, Friends know they are saved by grace "and that not of ourselves""Image 09; Copy of our epistle to Leeds Monthly meeting," Adolphustown Monthly Meeting Women 1808 – 1824 frames 8–9, Canadian Friends Historical Association. Accessed 24 September 2024
While noting settlers' limited diet, St. Joseph Island merchant derides Indigenous use of fish (Note: racial stereotypes)Letters of John Askin Jr. (January 13 and 14, 1808), The John Askin Papers; Volume II: 1796-1820 (1931), pgs. 589, 91-2. Accessed 30 September 2024
Nova Scotia N.S. and New Brunswick are key to Britain for their large and convenient harbours, and their ability to supply British West Indies when U.S.A. won't"Nova Scotia and New Brunswick," American Encroachments on British Rights, or, Observations on the Importance of the British North American Colonies[....] (1808), pg. xliv. Accessed 13 September 2024
Convoy of ships to West Indies carries fish, oil, claret and brandy, lumber, staves and shingles, flour, bread, meat, rice etc."Halifax, June 10," The Quebec Gazette, July 14, 1808 pg. 2 (2nd column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also editorial (bottom of 2nd column) forseeing industrial development large enough to rival U.S.A. if embargo continues) Accessed 23 September 2024