The Makers of Canada: Index and Dictionary of Canadian History Part 80

=Bib.=: Morgan, _Can. Men_.

=Watson, Samuel James= (1837-1881). Born in Ireland. Educated at Belfast Academy. Came to Canada and engaged in newspaper work, 1857. Appointed librarian of the Ontario a.s.sembly, 1871. Died in Toronto. =Bib.=: Works: _The Const.i.tutional History of Canada_; _The Powers of Canadian Parliaments_; _The Peace-Killer or The Ma.s.sacre of Lachine_; _The Legend of Roses_; _Ravlan: a Drama_.

=Watters, Charles.= =T= Defeated in St. John County, New Brunswick, 11; becomes solicitor-general, New Brunswick, 43; defeated in St. John, 84.

=Waverley Abbey.= =Sy= In Surrey, birthplace of Sydenham, 5.

=Wayne, Anthony= (1745-1796). Born in Pennsylvania. Sent in 1765, on the recommendation of Benjamin Franklin, to Nova Scotia, as financial agent and land surveyor. One of the provincial deputies chosen in 1774 to consider the relations between the American colonies and Great Britain.

In 1775 raised a regiment of troops, and in 1776 made colonel; defeated and wounded at Three Rivers in an attack on the British. Promoted brigadier-general, 1777; major-general, 1783; and general-in-chief, 1792. =Index=: =Dr= Defeats Indians at Fort Recovery, and demands evacuation of British fort on the Miami, 286. =S= Army under, threatens Detroit, 133; defeats Indians at Fort Recovery and on the Miami, 139; demands evacuation of Fort Miami, 139; his instructions to avoid anything that might lead to war with Great Britain, 142. =Bib.=: _Cyc.

Am. Biog._

=Weatherbe, Sir Robert Linton= (1836- ). Born in Prince Edward Island.

Educated at Prince of Wales's College, Charlottetown, and Acadia College, Wolfville. Edited the _Acadian Recorder_. Called to the bar, 1863; judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, 1878; chief-justice, 1905-1907; knighted, 1906. =Bib.=: Morgan, _Can. Men_.

=Webb, Samuel Blatchley= (1753-1807). Born in Connecticut. Took part in the civil and military movements that preceded the Revolution in 1775.

Commanded a company of Light Infantry in the battle of Bunker Hill. In 1776 appointed private secretary and aide-de-camp to Was.h.i.+ngton. In 1777 took part in the American expedition to Long Island, and captured with his troops by the British fleet; released in 1780. Afterwards brigadier-general. =Index=: =WM= Sent to America with reinforcements, 33; retreats on learning of fall of Oswego, 36; in command at Fort Edward, 45; his despatch to Colonel Monro intercepted, 46. =Bib.=: _Cyc.

Am. Biog._

=Webb's Regiment=. =WM= Formed part of reserve in battle of the Plains, 189. =Bib.=: Doughty, _Siege of Quebec_.

=Wedderburn, Lord=. _See_ Rosslyn.

=Weir, Lieutenant George=. Came to Canada with the 32nd Regiment; served in the Rebellion of 1837 in Lower Canada; sent with despatches to the officer in command at Sorel; captured by Wolfred Nelson and sent prisoner to St. Charles; attempted to escape at St. Denis, and was killed by his rebel guards. =Bib.=: Kingsford, _History of Canada_; Christie, _History of Lower Canada_.

=Weldon, John Wesley= (1804-1885). For many years a member of the Legislative a.s.sembly of New Brunswick, and 1843-1851 Speaker of the House. In 1865 appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick, and held the position until his death, 1885. =Index=: =W= Elected Speaker of New Brunswick a.s.sembly, 65, 66; action brought against in Doak and Hill case, 75; his amendment on question of money votes, 94.

=T= Appointed to New Brunswick Bench, 94. =Bib.=: Hannay, _History of New Brunswick_.

=Welland Ca.n.a.l=. Projected as a result of the War of 1812. A commission was appointed in 1816 to report on a ca.n.a.l between Lakes Erie and Ontario. The matter dragged along for several years, until at last, through the energy and enthusiasm of William Hamilton Merritt, a company was incorporated, and work actually commenced, in 1824. Five years later, the first vessels pa.s.sed through from Ontario to Erie. In 1841 work was commenced on the enlargement of the ca.n.a.l, and completed in 1850. Between 1873 and 1883, the ca.n.a.l was deepened to 12 feet; and in 1887 to 14 feet. In the meantime, the work had been taken over by the government, and become part of the system of Dominion ca.n.a.ls. =Index=: =Mc= Mackenzie's committee to inquire into, 264; Mackenzie a director of, 265; Francis Hincks on, 265; transactions of officials, 266, 267; report of committee, 268. =BL= Bought by government from private company, 1841, 98; completion of improvements, 337. _See also_ Ca.n.a.ls.

=Bib.=: Kingsford, _Early Ca.n.a.ls_; Merritt, _Biography of W. H.

Merritt_; Matheson, _Welland Ca.n.a.l_ (Women's Can. Hist. Soc. _Trans_., vol. 2).

=Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of= (1769-1852). Entered the army in 1787, and after serving in the Netherlands went to India in 1797, where he filled various military and civil offices until 1805. Two years later commanded the Copenhagen expedition and defeated the Danes at Kioge.

Took command of the army in the Peninsula in 1808, and between then and 1814 defeated the French under Soult, Victor, Ma.s.sena, and King Joseph.

On his return to England in 1814 created Duke of Wellington. The following year, with the co-operation of Blucher, defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. Premier in 1828, and resigned in 1830; foreign secretary in Peel's ministry, 1834. =Index=: =Bk= His successes in the Peninsula, 119; retreats into Portugal, 123. =Sy= Resigns from Cabinet, 16; returns to office as prime minister, 16; resigns, 52; on dismissal of Melbourne, summoned to form a ministry, 46; his government defeated, 46; persuaded by Chief Justice Robinson to oppose Union Bill in House of Lords, 231.

=B= Disapproves of Bagot's policy, 16, 17. =Mc= His connection with Catholic Emanc.i.p.ation Bill, 16-17. =Bib.=: _Despatches, 1799-1832_; _Speeches_. For biog., _see Dict. Nat. Biog._

=Wentworth, Sir John= (1737-1820). Born in Portsmouth, New Hamps.h.i.+re.

Educated at Harvard. In 1765 went to England as agent of the province of New Hamps.h.i.+re, and in 1767 appointed governor of the province; in the same year made surveyor-general of the king's woods in North America.

While governor of New Hamps.h.i.+re opposed the imposition of the taxes by Great Britain, but still supported British connection; compelled in 1775 to take refuge on board a British s.h.i.+p on which he sailed for England.

Appointed lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia, 1792. =Index=: =Dr= Lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia, 290. =Bib.=: _Dict. Nat. Biog._

=West.= =W= Of Halifax, establishes first Madras school in St. John, New Brunswick, in 1818, 87.

=West India Company.= Established by royal edict in 1664, under the usual conditions, that it should further the cause of colonization and religion in New France, and in return should possess a monopoly of the fur trade. The charter was revoked in 1674. In 1721, a similar charter was granted to a new West India Company. =Index=: =F= Creation of, 49; failure of, 149. =Bib.=: Biggar, _Early Trading Companies of New France_.

=Western Forts.= =S= Held by Great Britain pending settlement of Loyalist affairs, 55, 119; handed over to United States, 142. =Bk= Transfer of, to United States, 53. =Hd= Necessity for strengthening, 137; Haldimand declines to surrender till instructed by his government, 260; surrender of, 262. =Dr= Retained by Great Britain as security for concessions to Loyalists, 231; handed over to United States, 291, 303.

_See also_ Michilimackinac; Detroit, etc.

=Westminster Conference, 1866.= To settle finally the plan on which the Confederation of the provinces was to be carried out, the delegates from Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia met in the Westminster Palace Hotel, London. The Conference lasted from the 4th to the 24th of December, and pa.s.sed a series of sixty-nine resolutions based on those of the Quebec Conference. The Conference resumed again in January, 1867, with the result that the British North America Act was framed, and pa.s.sed by the Imperial Parliament. =Index=: =Mc= Conference meets in London, 125-127. =Bib.=: _See also_ British North America Act; Confederation.

=Wetherall, Sir George Augustus= (1788-1868). Born in Hamps.h.i.+re, England. Educated at Winchester and the Military College, Farnham. In 1803 joined the regiment of Nova Scotia Fencibles formed by his father, General Sir Fred A. Wetherall. During the Rebellion of 1837-1838 in Canada in command of the troops at Montreal, defeating the rebels at St.

Charles and Point Oliver. In 1838 promoted brevet-colonel; from 1843 to 1850 deputy-adjutant-general in Canada; adjutant-general, 1854; lieutenant-general, 1857, and in 1860 commanded the northern district in Great Britain. In 1865 appointed governor of the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. =Index=: =C= At St. Charles, 7. =P= Attacks rebels at St.

Charles, 129. =Bib.=: _Dict. Nat. Biog._

=Wetmore, A. B.= =T= Anti-Confederate candidate in St. John, New Brunswick, 84; his character, 84-85; breaks away from government, 101; elected as Confederate candidate in St. John, 109.

=Wheat.= =B= Lord Stanley introduces measure giving preference to Canadian wheat, 1843, 15; preference wiped out by the corn laws, 15, 31; _Globe_ on effect of corn laws, 31-32; Elgin on, 32; trade in, under Reciprocity Treaty of 1854, 229, 230. =MS= Red River settlers raise first crop of, 1813, 160, _See also_ Agriculture.

=Whelan, Edward= (1824-1867). Born in County Mayo, Ireland. Emigrated to Nova Scotia, and employed in the office of the _Nova Scotian_, under Joseph Howe. Moved to Prince Edward Island, 1842, and immediately threw himself into the struggle for popular rights; elected to the a.s.sembly; a member of the Council, 1864, when he represented his province at the Quebec Conference. Died at Charlottetown. =Index=: =T= Delegate to Quebec Conference from Prince Edward Island, 77. =Bib.=: Davin, _The Irishman in Canada_.

=White, John.= =S= First attorney-general of Upper Canada, 81, 178; his duel with John Small, clerk of council, 181.

=White, Philip.= =Dr= Loyalist, murder of, 198.

=White, Thomas= (1830-1888). Born in Montreal. Educated at the high school there. Joined the editorial staff of the _Quebec Gazette_; and in 1853 founded the _Peterborough Review_, which he edited for seven years.

In 1860 went to Cobourg to study law, and in 1864 with his brother founded the _Hamilton Spectator_. Elected to the Dominion Parliament for Cardwell, 1878, and again in 1882 and 1887. A member of Sir John A.

Macdonald's Cabinet in 1885 as minister of the interior, and carried out the political organization of the North-West Territories. =Index=: =E= On the coalition of 1854, 139; minister of the interior in the Macdonald ministry, 1885-1888, 139. =Md= Takes part in political picnic campaign, 220. =Bib.=: Rose, _Cyc. Can. Biog._

=Whitney, Sir James Pliny= (1843- ). Born at Williamsburg, Ontario.

Educated at the Cornwall Grammar School. Served for some years in the militia, and on active service during the Fenian raid, 1866. In 1876 called to the bar and practised at Morrisburg, Ontario. Elected for Dundas to the Ontario a.s.sembly, 1888. In 1896 leader of the Conservative party in Ontario; and in 1905 premier, on the defeat of the Liberal government. Knighted, 1908. =Bib.=: _Canadian Who's Who_.

=Wilc.o.x, Absalom.= =Mc= Aids Mackenzie's escape, 383.

=Wilc.o.x, Allan.= =Mc= Accompanies Mackenzie in his flight, 384-386.

=Wilkins, Lewis Morris= (1801-1885). Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Lewis Morris Wilkins, judge of the Supreme Court. Educated at King's College, Windsor, graduating in 1819. Called to the bar and practised at Windsor from 1823 to 1856. In 1856 appointed judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, resigning in 1876. For several years a member of the Nova Scotia Legislature, and provincial secretary in the Young ministry, 1854-1856. =Index=: =H= Delegate to England to represent views of Legislative Council of Nova Scotia on responsible government, 52, 56; supports Howe, 145; becomes provincial secretary, 146; signs Foreign Enlistment Proclamation, 152; appointed judge of Supreme Court, 157.

=Bib.=: Campbell, _History of Nova Scotia_.

=Wilkinson.= =B= Edits a Bowmanville newspaper, charges Senator Simpson with bribery in 1872, publishes letter from George Brown to Simpson, 249; sued for libel, 249; applies to have Brown committed for contempt of court, 252.

=Wilkinson.= =Dr= Aide-de-camp to Benedict Arnold, describes Arnold's rapid retreat, 147.

=William III= (1650-1702). King of England; son of William II, Prince of Orange, and Mary, daughter of Charles I of England. In 1677 married Mary, daughter of James II of England. In 1688 on the invitation of a number of leading British statesmen and n.o.bles, headed an expedition to England. On his arrival in England, James II fled, and on Feb. 13, 1689, William and Mary were proclaimed king and queen. =Index=: =Hd= Forms regiment of Swiss Guards, 7. =Bib.=: _Dict. Nat. Biog._

=William IV= (1765-1837). King of England; third son of George III and Queen Charlotte; born in Buckingham Palace. On June 26, 1830, succeeded George IV. =Index=: =Sy= Accession of, 25; dismisses Lord Melbourne, 45; death of, 48. =Dr= Arrival of, in Canada, as Prince William Henry, 238, 240; his popularity, 240. =W= Opposed to alienation of crown lands, 22; dismisses his advisors, 37; his death, 1837, 47. =Bib.=: _Dict. Nat.

Biog._

=William Henry.= =Dr= Name of Sorel changed to, 240.

=Williams, Sir William Fenwick= (1800-1883). Born in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. Graduated at Woolwich, England, in 1821; entered the army, 1825; and served with distinction in the Crimean War, 1854-1855. On his return to England created a baronet, received the Order of the Bath, and granted a pension of 1000 a year. Nova Scotia presented him with a sword of honour. In 1860-1866 commander of the forces in Canada; during the absence of the governor-general, Sir Edmund Head, administrator of Canada, from Oct. 12, 1860, to Jan. 22, 1861; and in 1865 governor of Nova Scotia. In 1868 full general; and in 1870 governor-general of Gibraltar. In 1877 retired from the army; and in 1881 appointed constable of the Tower. =Index=: =Md= Co-operates with Tupper in Confederation movement, 122. =Bib.=: _Dict. Nat. Biog._; Dent, _Can.

Por._; Taylor, _Brit. Am._; Saunders, _Three Premiers of Nova Scotia_.

=Willis, John Walpole= (1792-1877). Born in England. A voluminous writer on legal subjects. In 1827 appointed a puisne judge of the King's Bench in Upper Canada. A capable judge, but in constant conflict with Sir Peregrine Maitland, the lieutenant-governor of the province. On the ground that he had refused to conduct the business of the court alone, in the absence of the two other judges, the governor dismissed him from the bench in June, 1828. Subsequently judge in Demerara and judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales; dismissed from the latter appointment, 1743. =Index=: =Mc= Appointed, 1827, 130; quarrels with brother judges, 131; his contention, 131, 132, 133; removed, 133; large pet.i.tion in favour of, refused, 133. =BL= Dismissed from office, 28; his cause taken up by Reform party, 28; pet.i.tion of protest, 29. =Bib.=: Morgan, _Cel.

Can._; Read, _Lives of the Judges_.

=Willis, Michael= (1799-1879). Born in Greenock, Scotland. Educated at the University of Glasgow. A minister in Glasgow for a number of years, and professor of divinity for the secession branch of the Presbyterian Church. In 1843, at the disruption, joined the Free Church, and afterwards invited to Canada in connection with the colonial board of that religious body. In 1845 appointed professor of theology in Knox College, and later princ.i.p.al of that inst.i.tution, resigning in 1870. =B= President of Anti-Slavery Society of Canada, 112; princ.i.p.al of Knox College, 112.

=Willison, John Stephen= (1856- ). Born at Hill's Green, Ontario. Began his journalistic career with the London _Advertiser_, 1882; joined the staff of the Toronto _Globe_, 1883. Represented the _Globe_ in Ottawa for some years; editor-in-chief of the _Globe_, 1890; subsequently editor of the Toronto _News_. =Index=: =Mc= His opinion of Mackenzie, 14. =Md= Quoted on _Parti Rouge_, 45. =Bib.=: _Sir Wilfrid Laurier and the Liberal Party_. For biog., _see_ Morgan, _Can. Men_; _Canadian Who's Who_.