Events from the year 1809 in Canada.
Incumbents Monarch: George III
Parliaments of Canada Parliament of Lower Canada: 5th (April 10 – May 18) Parliament of Upper Canada: 5th (starting February 2)
Governors Governor of the Canadas: James Henry Craig Governor of New Brunswick: Thomas Carleton Governor of Nova Scotia: George Prevost Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: John Holloway Governor of Prince Edward Island: Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres Governor of Upper Canada: Francis Gore
Events On August 17, the foundation of Nelson's Column, Montreal was laid. November 3: John Molson's steamboat, PS Accommodation, starts for Quebec City. It is overall, has a engine, and makes the distance in 36 hours, but stops at night and reaches Quebec on November 6. The Accommodation is the second steamboat in America, and probably the world. From 1809 to 1811, Tecumseh, Shawnee chief, and the Prophet campaign to unite tribes of the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Southeast against the United States. His brother Tenskwatawa, the Shawnee Prophet, is defeated at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. Napoleon's continental blockade cuts British access to Scandinavian timber. The North West Company builds Fort Gibraltar.
Births
January 31 – Lemuel Allan Wilmot, lawyer, politician, judge, and 3rd Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick (d.1878) March 27 – Jean-Louis Beaudry, entrepreneur, politician and 11th Mayor of Montreal (d.1886) May 15 – Pierre-Eustache Dostaler, politician (d.1884) June 15 – François-Xavier Garneau, notary, civil servant, poet and historian (d.1866) July 25 – Jonathan McCully, politician (d.1877) October 11 – Modeste Demers, missionary (d.1871) November 15 – Charles La Rocque, priest and third Bishop of Saint-Hyacinthe (d.1875) November 24 – Amos Wright, politician (d.1886)
Deaths July 3 – Joseph Quesnel, musician (b. 1746)
Historical documents Map: British North America and northeastern U.S.A. (Lake Superior to Newfoundland and James Bay to Virginia, with names of Indigenous nations)"Map of Canada, &c." ("published July 6th, 1809"), in Letters from Canada, Written during a Residence There in the Years 1806, 1807 and 1808[....] Accessed 15 October 2024
Quebec editorial warns that U.S.A. has such strong home advantage that even were its seaports "laid in ashes," it would be "unvanquished""Quebec, January 9, 1809; From so great a part[....]," The Quebec Mercury, January 9, 1809 pg. 15, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 7 October 2024
New Hampshire Congressman says "the zeal of the inhabitants of the U.S. as to marching into Canada is very much diminished""Congress; House of Representatives; Debate on raising the Embargo, and authorising Letters of Marque and Reprisal--Continued; Thursday, Feb. 2; Mr. Durell's speech concluded," National Intelligencer, & Washington Advertiser (February 17, 1809), pg. 2 (column 2), Library of Congress. Accessed 17 October 2024
Town meetings from coast to interior of Massachusetts and New York are resolved against embargo, even though it is good alternative to war"The Quebec Gazette; The anti-Embargo town meetings[....]" The Quebec Gazette, February 9, 1809 pg. 1 (column 4 bottom), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 10 October 2024
Satirical editorial laments embargo repeal and blames Jefferson for "the storm he has so jacobinically raised among the starving Sans culottes""Quebec, February 27, 1809; At our last[....]," The Quebec Mercury, February 27, 1809 pgs. 70–1 (bottom of column 3), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also "Reasons of Mr. Randolph for Repealing the Embargo," pg. 83) Accessed 7 October 2024
Indication from Congress is that embargo will be lifted on March 4 (note: that was last day of President Jefferson's administration)"New-York, Feby. 3; It is said in letters from Washington[....]" The Quebec Gazette, February 16, 1809 pg. 2 (column 3 top), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also "Substance of the Non-Intercourse Act" article (pg. 2, column 1) quoting several sections of new law, and also U.S. Treasury circular (in Documents Accompanying the Message of the President (frame 4)) saying embargo will continue) Accessed 10 October 2024
President James Madison informs Congress of growing U.S.-U.K. reconciliation and hoped-for resumption of trade on June 10"Yesterday's Burlington Mail; Washington, May 22" The Quebec Gazette, June 8, 1809 pg. 2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 10 October 2024
Michigan's Gov. Hull advises "Ottawa and Chippewa Nations" at Michilimackinac not to listen to British advice"Gov. Hull's Address to the Indians, Aug. 1809" (August 29, 1809 text), pgs. 3 and 4 Six Nations Public Library. Accessed 15 October 2024
Map: British North America (including Hudson Bay and Baffin Bay)"The British Possessions in North America from the best Authorities" (1809), Boston Public Library. Accessed 17 October 2024
Lower Canada Gov. Gen. Craig tells L.C. parliament to extend benefits from U.S. embargo by ending "causeless jealousies and suspicions amongst yourselves""Provincial Parliament of Lower Canada; I might be thought insensible[....]" (April 13, 1809), The Quebec Mercury, April 17, 1809 pg. 125, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 8 October 2024
After controversy in 1808, Assembly resolves "that Ezekiel Hart, Esquire, possessing the Jewish religion, cannot sit, nor vote in this House""The order of the day[....]" (May 5, 1809), Journal of the House of Assembly, Lower-Canada (1809), pgs. 242, 244, 246, 248 (See also next day's failed attempts (pgs. 250, 252) to amend resolution barring Hart, and letter to the editor ("Mr. Editor," pg. 156) calling for free enjoyment of every religion, and provincial election results (pg. 350) showing Hart lost by wide margin) Accessed 4 October 2024
Craig orders election to replace current Assembly, citing members' "fruitless debates" and "private and personal animosities""And then His Excellency was pleased to make the following Speech[....]" (May 15, 1809), Journal of the House of Assembly, Lower-Canada (1809), pgs. 302, 304 Accessed 4 October 2024
"The pertinacious obstinacy and deep rooted prejudices of the lower classes" against smallpox vaccination are crimes against their children"It is with the greatest grief[....]," The Quebec Mercury, March 13, 1809 pg. 87 (left column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 7 October 2024
Models are being made in Trois-Rivières for iron machinery for steamboat that is to begin service from Montreal"Extract of a letter from Three Rivers," The Quebec Mercury, February 27, 1809 pg. 71, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also description (pg. 358) of steamboat and its maiden voyage and another on Lake Champlain that serves St. Jean sur Richelieu) Accessed 7 October 2024
"The [ice] road across the river was hardly made when the streets of Montreal were crowded with American sleighs," with 500 more bringing farm products"Montreal, Jan. 9," The Quebec Gazette, January 12, 1809 pg. 1 (right column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also "Boston, January 14" report (pg. 2, column 2) of 700 sleighs on road between Montreal and western Vermont, and "The Land Embargo; Comment" (pg. 1, column 3) reporting glutted Montreal market) Accessed 10 October 2024
Road to Quebec City from head of Connecticut River would allow supply of beef that would drive down price "one or two pence on the pound""Communication," The Quebec Mercury, October 30, 1809 pg. 349, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 9 October 2024
Obituary of Jean Baptiste Lahaille says his teaching in Seminary of Quebec "enabled his young auditors to follow him[...]almost without effort""Died," The Quebec Gazette, June 1, 1809 pg. 2 (column 4), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 10 October 2024
Saint-Roch brewery thanks Quebec City garrison and citizens for so successfully containing malt house fire with their fire engines"Mr. Young[....]" (January 7, 1809), The Quebec Mercury, January 9, 1809 pg. 15, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 7 October 2024
Thief awaiting pardon right up to his execution was mistaken believing Crown issues reprieves that would compromise public welfare"Quebec: Thursday, October 19, 1809; On Friday last[....]," The Quebec Gazette, October 19, 1809 pg. 2 (column 4), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 11 October 2024
At trial of dueller, judge explains homicide, manslaughter and murder, plus "Point of Honour" as extralegal but valid consideration"Major Campbell; There is still another point[....]," The Quebec Mercury, January 16, 1809 pg. 20, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 7 October 2024
Two Ste. Famille parish men are fined £20 each for hiding deserter, but regiment returns £15 to one called extremely poor and contrite"Quebec Gazette; Two inhabitants[....], The Quebec Gazette, July 20, 1809 pg. 2 (column 4), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 11 October 2024
Details of "the most daring robbery we ever heard of in the province, surpassing for hardihood every thing [likely in] persons of this country""Daring Robbery," The Quebec Mercury, July 24, 1809 pg. 238–9, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 8 October 2024
Praising Parliament bill protecting animals, especially overrun, overdriven and overburdened horses, editorial sees need for same in L.C."Quebec, July 15, 1809," The Quebec Mercury, July 17, 1809 pg. 227, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 8 October 2024
Canadian Courant reports 200 "hardy Americans" have arrived or are coming to seigneury near Montreal to fulfill lumber contracts"Montreal, March 6" The Quebec Gazette, March 9, 1809 pg. 2 (column 3 bottom), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 10 October 2024
"A Steady respectable Young or Middle aged man [is wanted] as an Out-Door Clerk" residing summer and fall on timber grounds at Wolfe's Cove"Wanted" The Quebec Gazette, February 23, 1809 pg. 3 (column 1), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 10 October 2024
Just imported: men's beaver, silk and "Beaver water proof" hats, servants' camel hair hats, and hats for children, ladies and "Country merchants""Hat Warehouse" (June 27, 1809), The Quebec Gazette, July 13, 1809 pg. 1 (column 1), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 11 October 2024
"Othello" to be performed "with entire new Dresses, &c.;" gentlemen are requested to buy tickets in lobby and not give money to doorkeeper"Theatre," The Quebec Mercury, March 13, 1809 pg. 87, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 7 October 2024
Review of performances in The Honey Moon range from "a Chef d'œuvre of theatric Art" to "get rid of a languishing drawl""Theatre," The Quebec Gazette, October 19, 1809 pg. 3 (column 1), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 11 October 2024
Literary Society of Quebec will give silver medal to "the best verses in the English, French or Latin Languages" on King George's birth"The Literary Society of Quebec[....]" (April 5, 1809), The Quebec Mercury, April 10, 1809 pg. 120, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 8 October 2024
Scenes in new wax museum in Quebec City include "the death of Lord Nelson, in his last moments, attended by his Captain and Lieut.""New Museum of Wax Work," The Quebec Mercury, May 8, 1809 pg. 151, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 8 October 2024
Masked ball at Government House and terrace includes people dressed as "a Gentleman Jew[,] an old French Lady of the last century" etc."Communication" (May 4, 1809), The Quebec Mercury, May 22, 1809 pg. 163, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 8 October 2024