- Isaac Swayze
Isaac Swayze (1751–
February 11 1828 ) was a soldier and political figure inUpper Canada .He was born in Morris County,
New Jersey in 1751 into a family of German immigrants ofJewish extraction. During theAmerican Revolution , according to legend, he served as a secret agent for the British, was arrested, sentenced to death and escaped by exchanging clothes with his wife during a prison visit. In 1783, he was arrested by the British authorities at New York, having been suspected of committed a robbery, and later released, on condition that he leave town.In 1784, he settled at St. Davids on the
Niagara peninsula . He is famous for being the pioneer nurseryman of the Niagara District, having carried trees on his back from New York State to his new homestead at Beaverdams. Swayze created theapple known as theSwayze Pomme Gris .In 1792, he was elected to the
1st Parliament of Upper Canada representing the 3rd riding of Lincoln. In 1795, he led a protest against the wording used on deeds that some people believed would prevent the sale of their own land. He was charged withsedition and fined. He was elected again in Lincoln County in 1800 after a campaign where he was accused of being ahorse thief by his competitors, includingSilvester Tiffany , who published his accusations in his newspaper, the "Niagara Herald ". At this time, Swayze generally supported policies favouring the common folk rather than the rich elite.He was elected again in 1804 and 1816. He was a captain of troops during the
War of 1812 . His house and barn were destroyed during the conflict. He was a vocal opponent of the reformer Robert Gourlay and helped bring charges of seditious libel againstBartemas Ferguson , then editor of the "Niagara Spectator ", for publishing an article written by Gourlay.He died near Niagara (
Niagara-on-the-Lake ) in 1828.External links
* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=3152 Biography at the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]
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