Events from the year 1806 in Canada.
Incumbents Monarch: George III
Federal government Parliament of Lower Canada: 4th Parliament of Upper Canada: 4th
Governors Governor of the Canadas: Robert Milnes Governor of New Brunswick: Thomas Carleton Governor of Nova Scotia: John Wentworth Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: Erasmus Gower then John Holloway Governor of Prince Edward Island: Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres
Events Minor trouble arises after 1806 when a governor attempts to anglicize Lower Canada, but he is able to quell dissent if not to achieve his goal. Russian-American Company Company collects otter pelts from Alaska to Spanish California. Mungo Park killed by natives on Niger River in Africa. On return trip John Colter is released from the Lewis and Clark Expedition to join Forrest Hancock and Joseph Dickson (Dixon) to trap the Yellowstone River. Le Canadien, a Quebec nationalist newspaper, is founded.
Births April 12 – Peter Rindisbacher, painter (d.1834) May 6 – Charles Dewey Day, lawyer, judge and politician (d.1884) August 12 – George Ryan, politician (d.1876) November 2 – Henry Kellett, officer in the Royal Navy, oceanographer, Arctic explorer (d.1875) December 9 – Jean-Olivier Chénier, physician and Patriote (d.1837)
Deaths May 31: Louis Dunière, politician (b. 1723) July: Robert Gray, merchant sea-captain and explorer (b.1755) October 26: John Graves Simcoe, first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada (b.1752) December 31: Deborah Cottnam, schoolmistress and poet (b. c.1725–1728)
Historical documents For "inhabitants on both sides," U.S. trade with British North America should be free, but U.S. will dominate carrying tradeJames Madison to James Monroe and William Pinkney (May 17, 1806), U.S. National Archives. (See also New Brunswick lieutenant governor(frame 563) has "always thought that our open communication with New York was an injury to us") Accessed 8 August 2024
U.S. Senate wants return of trade goods that British confiscated as well as "arrangement" over impressment of U.S. sailors"Quebec, March 13, 1806; The following resolution[....]," The Quebec Gazette, March 13, 1806, Cahier 1 pg. 4, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 31 July 2024
Earl of Selkirk argues settlement of Highland emigrants in British North America (not in U.S.A.) is good for colonists and coloniesThomas Douglas, "XI. Importance of the emigrants to our colonies(....)" and "XII. Measures adopted in pursuance of these views(....)" Observations on the[...]Highlands of Scotland, with a View [to] Emigration (Second Edition; 1806), pgs. 164–232 (Images 180–251) (See also comments on Selkirk's book) Accessed 25 July 2024
Salem newspaper names Canada-U.S.A. road links as communications that will "accelerate the settlements in these countries""The Subject of the Quebec turnpike[....]," The National Intelligencer and Washington Advertiser (September 17, 1806), pg. 3 Library of Congress. (See also notice (pgs. 310–11) of turnpike through New York State to Montreal access road) Accessed 24 July 2024
"W. Wilberforce" and "G. Sharp" sponsor plan for "a comprehensive system of Improvement" for Indigenous in British North AmericaProposal for Forming a Society for Promoting the Civilization and Improvement of the North-American Indians, within the British Boundary Accessed 25 July 2024
Michigan rumours of attack by Indigenous people probably meant to scare off trade rivals, and use big trade gathering as pretext"Indian War," The Quebec Mercury, July 28, 1806 pg. 236, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 29 July 2024
Reading Declaration of Independence on July 4th "breathes envy, hatred, strife, malice and all uncharitableness" between nations at peace"The american papers[....]," The Quebec Mercury, July 28, 1806 pg. 239 (centre column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 29 July 2024
Lower Canada "This great cause of humanity" - British physician John Ring details extent of cowpox vaccination against smallpox in Lower CanadaJohn Ring, "To the Editors(....) Medical and Physical Journal (April 1806), pgs. 311-22, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Accessed 12 August 2024
In Quebec City, business has "been laid aside[...]to give room for demonstrations of joy for the Victory [at Trafalgar]""Quebec, January 9, 1806," The Quebec Gazette, January 9, 1806, Cahier 1 pg. 2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also description of one victory ball held in Quebec) Accessed 31 July 2024
Part of Quebec convoy to Britain burned by French; 2 troop transports escape, but 6 merchantmen "left pursued by the enemy""Quebec, October 30, 1806; We are sorry to announce[....]," The Quebec Gazette, October 30, 1806, Cahier 1 pg. 4, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also further details (pg. 3) of "Quebec fleet") Accessed 1 August 2024
Tips on growing corn, "an article of great importance to the cultivators of this Province" because so much of it has to be imported"To the Editor of the Quebec Mercury" (July 24, 1806), The Quebec Mercury, August 4, 1806 pg. 242, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 29 July 2024
Why House of Assembly replaced straight land tax with proportional tax based on varying agricultural value of land"Memorial containing the motives(....)" (March 18, 1806), Journals of the House of Assembly, Lower-Canada[...]1806, pgs. 134–42, l'Assemblée nationale du Québec, Bibliothèque, Québec. Accessed 26 July 2024
Assembly has Montreal merchant dinner toastmaster and Montreal Gazette editor who published toasts arrested for libelling House"The House, according to order(....)" (March 15, 1806), Journals of the House of Assembly, Lower-Canada[...]1806, pgs. 112–20, l'Assemblée nationale du Québec, Bibliothèque, Québec. (See also editorial comment ("The Resolve of the House[....]," The Quebec Mercury, pg. 79) that libel claim could be "unpleasant" for House, and also editorial comment just following on "tyrant's" dislike of newspapers) Accessed 26 July 2024
House of Assembly orders Quebec Mercury editor's arrest by sergeant-at-arms for publishing account of House proceedings"Ordered, That Thomas Cary(....)" (March 11, 1806), Journals of the House of Assembly, Lower-Canada[...]1806, pg. 88, l'Assemblée nationale du Québec, Bibliothèque, Québec. (See also editor's apology to House and release from custody, pgs. 92, 94, and Assembly proceedings published (The Quebec Mercury, pg. 78), and also comment on editor's arrest (pg. )) Accessed 26 July 2024
British ambassador to U.S.A. relates frustrating case of North West Company goods seized by Michilimackinac customs officeWilliam Hull to James Madison (July 31, 1806), U.S. National Archives. (See also Hull's comment that "the agitation respecting the Slaves i[n] Upper Canada has subsided") Accessed 8 August 2024
John Quincy Adams at gathering with Canadians "Mr. Shaw" and "Mr. M'Gillivray" (possibly Angus Shaw and William McGillivray)"18 January 1806" John Quincy Adams Digital Diary, Massachusetts Historical Society. Accessed 9 August 2024
Bridges and roads planned: Quebec City to Connecticut River; Trois-Rivières to Hereford; and through Hatley to Richelieu River"Executive Council Office" (October 6, 1806), The Quebec Gazette, October 9, 1806, Cahier 1 pg. 1, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 1 August 2024
£1,000 for removing "impediments" in Lachine Rapids is to be matched for further work there and toward Lake St. FrancisAn Act for applying a further sum of one thousand Pounds(...)towards the improvement of the inland navigation of this Province, between Montreal and Lake St. Francis (April 19, 1806), British North American Legislative Database, 1758-1867. (See also details of clearing work pgs. 38–44) Accessed 24 July 2024
"A Man left a Widower with a Family of Eight Small Children, for all of whom he [cannot] provide, [will place] out some of them[....]""To Charitable Persons" (September 6, 1806), The Quebec Gazette, September 11, 1806, Cahier 1 pg. 2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 1 August 2024
Woman with minor son, "sole surviving issue of her mariage," wants "all persons indebted to his Sucession to pay immediately""The Subscriber in her own name[....]" (September 24, 1806), The Quebec Gazette, October 2, 1806, Cahier 1 pg. 4, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 1 August 2024
Counterfeiters of U.S. bank notes in Montreal arrested and their paper supplier offered immunity if he turns King's evidenceLetter from Montreal (September 20, 1806), New Hampshire Gazette (October 28, 1806), pg. 2 (See also accounts (pg. 311) of further arrests) Accessed 24 July 2024
Protestant missionary calls Catholics "very kind to strangers [but] involved in the thick darkness of superstition and ignorance"Letter from Quebec City mission (January 11, 1806), Account of Foreign Missions Undertaken and Supported by Churches in Edinburgh and Other Places (June 1, 1806), pg. 30 (image 34), University of Toronto Library. Accessed 25 July 2024
Newspaper Le Canadien launched with motto "Notre foi, notre langue, nos institutions (our faith, our language, our institutions)"Quoted in Claude Bélanger, "The Three Pillars of Survival" (2000), L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Quebec History Encyclopedia, Marianopolis College. (See also Prospectus (in French) for this newspaper, and unfriendly commentary (pg. 366) in Quebec Mercury (Note: several letters in subsequent issues of Mercury echo this hostility); and see note in Gazette (pg. 3) explaining why it will avoid "any discussions [that excite] national prejudices") Accessed 26 July 2024
Dr. Blanchet to begin series of lectures on chemistry (gasses etc.) and geography ("Mountains, Mines, Petrifications, Lakes" etc.)"Chemical Lectures by F. Blanchet[....]" (November 22[sic], 1806), The Quebec Gazette, November 20, 1806, Cahier 1 pg. 3, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 2 August 2024
Note on destroyed Trois-Rivières Ursuline convent praises nuns running hospitals and educating "the female part of the society""Quebec, October 9, 1806; It is with much concern[....]," The Quebec Gazette, October 9, 1806, Cahier 1 pg. 3, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also "Beneficent Subscription" (pg. 5) to raise funds for nuns) Accessed 1 August 2024
"Just arrived[...]Madeira wine, Spanish wine[...], Cogniac Brandy, Holland's Geneva,[...]Martinique crème Cordials [etc.]""For Sale by the Subscriber on His Wharf" (June 5, 1806), The Quebec Gazette, June 26, 1806, Cahier 2 pg. 3, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 1 August 2024
Deputy Commissary General wants proposals to supply "[3,000] gallons of proof West India rum""Wanted for His Majesty's Service" (July 31, 1806), The Quebec Gazette, July 31, 1806, Cahier 1 pg. 3, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 1 August 2024
Ad notes "life of drudgery and anxiety led by the sons and daughters of Thespis" suffering "fickle fortune's severest frowns""We venture to recommend Mrs. Ormsby[....]," The Quebec Mercury, May 5, 1806 pg. 143 (left column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 29 July 2024
Touring artist informs ladies and gentlemen of his portrait painting (miniature to "as large as life"), paper profiles, art lessons etc."Painting" (October 8, 1806), The Quebec Gazette, October 9, 1806, Cahier 2 pg. 5, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 1 August 2024
Painting: view of Quebec City in distance from downriver near north bankJames Peachey, "A view of the City & Basin of Quebec, the Capital of Canada, taken near the Falls of Montmorency in 1806" McCord Stewart Museum. Accessed 26 July 2024
Upper Canada