James Macaulay

James Macaulay (1759 – January 1 1822) was a doctor and medical official in Upper Canada.

The son of a clergyman, he was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1759 and later served with the Queen's Rangers as surgeon to the regiment during the American Revolution. In 1785, he joined the 33rd Regiment of Foot. In 1791, he arrived in Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake) in Upper Canada with the new Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, a former commander of the Queen's Rangers, whose wife, Elizabeth Posthuma Gwillim, [ [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=3418] Elizabeth (Gwillim) Simcoe at Canadian biographies online] had been a close childhood friend of Macaulay's wife, Elizabeth.

Macaulay and his wife, Elizabeth Tuck Hayter (1770-1809) were married in England in 1790. She was the daughter of naval officer Samuel Hayter (1737-1800) of Wareham Priory, Dorset, whose mother was the daughter of Captain Seth Jermy (1653-1724). [ [http://stanfield.und.ac.za/sethj.html] Captain Seth Jermy (1653-1724) R.N, Canadian biographies online]

They later moved to York (Toronto) when the provincial capital was transferred there. He acquired several large parcels of land due to his military service and helped by his close firendship to the Lieutenant-Governor. Macaulay was in charge of the hospitals in Upper and Lower Canada until he was replaced in 1808. During the War of 1812, he helped set up military hospitals. He served on the first Medical Board of Upper Canada and was the chief medical officer for the province from 1819 until his death in 1822. Described as 'an assiduous collector of land', before 1800 alone he had acquired 5,300 acres in and around York (Toronto).

His oldest son, John Simcoe Macaulay, named after his godfather, the lieutenant governor, served with the Royal Engineers and was elected to the Legislative Council of Upper Canada. James Buchanan Macaulay, another son, was chief justice for the Court of Common Pleas, treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada, and a member of the Executive Council of Upper Canada.

John Graves Simcoe described his friend as 'a young man attached to his profession, and of that docile, patient, and industrious turn... that will willingly direct itself to any pursuit.'

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External links

* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=2981 Biography at the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]