Samuel Street
Samuel Street | |
---|---|
Born | January 2, 1753 Wilton, Connecticut |
Died | February 3, 1815 Thorold, Upper Canada | (aged 62)
Occupation(s) | Merchant, politician, judge |
Years active | 1770s–1815 |
Samuel Street (January 2, 1753 – February 3, 1815) was a Canadian judge, merchant and political figure in
Early life, family, and business career
Street was born in Wilton, Connecticut on January 2, 1753.[1] His father was also named Samuel Street and his mother was Elizabeth Smith. His wife was Phoebe Van Camp and they had a daughter named Mary.[2]
Street traded with indigenous people along the
When their sales declined due to American competition, Street and Andrew Butler built a sawmill on Fifteen Mile Creek Street in 1789, which was sold to John Butler in 1792. In 1790 Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester and governor general of British North America ordered an investigation into their business for stealing supplies from the Indian Department and selling it in the shop. Sir John Johnson, 2nd Baronet concluded that, while Street and Andrew Butler's business was unusual and unaccountable, there was no reason to continue investigating the business.[2]
Street became involved in
Political career
In 1792 Street lost the election to represent the constituency of the 2nd riding of Lincoln in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada. He was resoundingly defeated by Benjamin Pawling. He won the subsequent election in 1796. In 1797 he was considered for an appointment to a commission tasked with renegotiating a customs-sharing agreement with Lower Canada, but the administrator was unable to contact Street to arrange the appointment, as Street was in the United States.[2] In 1798 he supported a bill that would allow loyalist immigrants from the United States to Upper Canada to bring enslaved people with them.[4]
In 1800, he was elected as speaker of the Upper Canadian legislative assembly. Later that year, merchant candidates like Street struggled in the 1800 general election for the legislative assembly because of public opposition to improving the Niagara portage. He lost his reelection campaign to represent the 2nd riding of Lincoln by 22 votes. He also lost in the subsequent general election in 1804.[2]
In 1807, he became a judge in the Niagara District. In 1808, he was elected to represent the 3rd riding of Lincoln[2] and on July 27, 1812, he was elected for a second term as speaker of the legislature.[5] During his term, Street issued a warrant for Robert Nichol for contempt against the legislature. Thomas Scott, the chief justice of Upper Canada, ruled that the warrant was issued in Street's personal capacity, not as his role as a speaker and that he did not have the authority to issue this warrant.[2][6] His term as a legislator ended in 1812.[1]
War of 1812 and death
In 1809 Street became the captain of the
He died at Thorold, Upper Canada, on February 3, 1815.[1] In his will, he left his estate to his daughter, Mary.[2]
References
- ^ OCLC 243584870.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Parker, Bruce A. (1983). "Street, Samuel". www.biographi.ca. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
- ^ Parker, Bruce A. "Street, Samuel (1775–1844)". www.biographi.ca. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
- OCLC 31165932.
- ^ "Lest We Forget". The Toronto Star. July 26, 1928. p. 29.
- JSTOR 1278336– via JSTOR.