Edward Hale

Edward Hale, D.C.L. (December 6, 1800 – April 26, 1875) was a Quebec businessman and political figure. He was Chancellor of Bishop's University and a significant figure to Bishop's College School.

Family and early life

Hale was born in Quebec City in 1800, the son of John Hale and Elizabeth Amherst Hale, who were well-connected in the colonial government and society of Lower Canada.

His father was a British army officer who had settled in Lower Canada. John Hale was appointed to the Legislative Council of Lower Canada in 1808 and served as a member until the constitution was suspended in 1838. He was also a member of the Executive Council of Lower Canada from 1820 until his death in 1838.

Political career Lower Canada

In November 1837, the Lower Canada Rebellion broke out. Hale served as secretary to the colonel of the local Sherbrooke militia during the rebellion, but did not participate in any of the military engagements.

Province of Canada

Following the rebellion in Lower Canada, and the similar rebellion in 1837 in Upper Canada (now Ontario), the British government decided to merge the two provinces into a single province, as recommended by Lord Durham in the Durham Report. The Union Act, 1840, passed by the British Parliament, abolished the two provinces and their separate parliaments. It created the Province of Canada, with a single Parliament for the entire province, composed of an elected Legislative Assembly and an appointed Legislative Council. The Governor General initially retained a strong position in the government.

Hale was apparently encouraged to stand for election to the Legislative Assembly in the new Parliament. His opponent was Colonel Bartholomew Gugy. Both men were supporters of the union and the government of Lord Sydenham. Gugy tried to persuade Hale to abandon the campaign, but Hale persisted and was elected to the Assembly, for Sherbrooke.

In the first session of the Parliament, the major issue was the union of the Canadas. The leader of the French-Canadian Group, John Neilson, introduced a resolution condemning the way union had been imposed on Lower Canada. The Neilson motion was defeated in the Assembly. Hale was one of the members who supported the union and voted against the resolution. Throughout the first Parliament, Hale was a consistent supporter of the Governor General. He criticised proposals for greater control of the government by the Assembly, particularly in 1842 when the ministry was reconstituted in 1842 with a stronger Reform balance and an aim of greater control of government by the Assembly.

Hale was re-elected by acclamation in 1844. He continued to be a consistent supporter of the Governor General, in the group called "British" Tories. He was diligent in his attendance and participation in the affairs of the Assembly, but found that his business interests suffered by his lengthy absences, first in Kingston, later in Montreal. In 1847 he announced that he would not stand for election in the 1848 election. Col. Gugy was elected in his place.

Quebec Legislative Council In 1867, Confederation created Canada, and divided the Province of Canada into Quebec and Ontario, each with its own parliament. Hale was named to the Legislative Council of Quebec for the Wellington division, sitting as a Conservative. He served until his death at Quebec City in 1875. He was buried in Sherbrooke.