- Richard Beasley
Richard Beasley (
July 21 1761 –February 16 1842 ) was a soldier, political figure, farmer and businessman inUpper Canada .He was born in
New York in 1761 and moved toQuebec in 1777. In 1783, he formed a partnership withPeter Smith in thefur trade . In 1788, he settled in Barton Township onLake Ontario near the current city of Hamilton,cite book|title=Dictionary of Hamilton Biography (Vol I, 1791-1875)|first=Thomas Melville |last=Bailey|publisher=W.L. Griffin Ltd|year=1981] still involved in trading furs. He built asawmill andgrist mill there. However, in 1800, after speculating in land along the Grand River, he was forced to sell part of his property to cover debts. At one time he owned 13,350 acres of land in what is nowKitchener, Ontario . Much of it was later sold to German settlers.cite book|title=Saga of a City|first=Milton |last=Watson|publisher=The Hamilton Spectator|year=1938]In 1796, he was elected to the
2nd Parliament of Upper Canada , representing Durham, York & 1st Lincoln. He was also appointed magistrate in the same year. In the next Parliament, he represented West York, Lincoln & Haldimand and served as speaker from 1803 to 1804. In 1802, he became a lieutenant colonel in the York militia. In 1808, he was elected to represent West York in the 5th Parliament, but he was unseated because it was found that his agent had closed the polls too early.Beasley occupied "Burlington Heights" (now the site of "Dundurn" and "Harvey Parks") in 1790. Financial difficulties forced Beasley to sell lands at Burlington Heights, but it was purchased by Sir Allan Napier MacNab who built
Dundurn Castle on the foundations of Beasley's brick home. cite book|title=Dictionary of Hamilton Biography (Vol I, 1791-1875)|first=Thomas Melville |last=Bailey|publisher=W.L. Griffin Ltd|year=1981] A recent book by David Richard Beasley gives an account of Richard Beasley's life: From Bloody Beginnings: Richard Beasley's Upper Canada [Simcoe: Davus, 2008]In 1813, retreating British forces set up camp on his land, causing considerable damage. After the war, he took part in a convention organized by radical reformer
Robert Fleming Gourlay . As a result, he lost his post as magistrate. In addition, allegations regarding his participation in theWar of 1812 were raised.In 1824, he was elected to represent Halton and became a magistrate again in 1827.
He died in Hamilton in 1842.
Tribute
The Beasley neighbourhood in Hamilton is named after him. It is bounded by Barton Street East (north), Main Street East (south), John Street North (west) and Wellington Street North (east). Landmarks in this neighbourhood include
Landmark Place , "Ramada Plaza hotel", "Connaught Block/Royal Connaught hotel", the "International Village", "Theatre Aquarius" and Beasley Park, which was also named after him. cite journal| title = Experience Hamilton: Tourist Guide 2006/2007| journal = Tourism Hamilton| pages = 34–35| date = Winter 2006]Richard Beasley Public School, also named after him, is a primary school on the east Mountain.
References
* MapArt
Golden Horseshoe Atlas - Page 647 - Grids F12, F13, G12, G13External links
* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=3238 Biography at the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]
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