Rolph John 1792-1870 Born In Thornbury England Emigrated To
Canada. Practised as a physician in Toronto, and in 1837 took part in
the Rebellion. Connected with Mackenzie in the attempt to capture
Toronto. After the collapse of the movement fled to the United States,
where he practised for some years. Pardoned and returned to Canada,
1843; settled in Toronto. Joined with Lesslie, Perry, and others in
forming the Clear Grit party; founded a medical school in Toronto;
commissioner
of crown lands in the Hincks-Morin ministry, 1851; resigned
from the government, 1854, and joined the opposition; retired from
public life, 1857. =Index=: (William Lyon Mackenzie era) Defends Judge Willis, 133; moves
address, 151; brings Gurnett to bar, 152; appointed executive
councillor, 294; resigns, 294; prepares answer to Governor Head, 298;
exposes opposition to Mackenzie's petition, 311; prevented from speaking
in the House, 319; speech ridiculing Governor Head's exculpation by
House, 323; pens "Declaration of Independence," 330; does not sign, 331;
to be "sole executive" of Rebellion movement, 350; changes day of
rising, 361; meets Mackenzie, 362; accompanies flag of truce, 368;
advises Lount to advance, 371; second flag of truce, 371; leaves for the
United States, 375; on Navy Island, 413; declines treasurership, 416;
amnestied, 474. (Baldwin / La Fontaine / Hincks era) Fight for reform, 13; appointed to Executive
Council by Head, 38-39; joint organizer of Rebellion of 1837, with
Mackenzie, 43; changes date of rising, 43; sent by Head to the rebels,
44; tells Lount to pay no attention to Head's message, 44-45; his exile
and return, a leader of the new Radicalism, 340-341. (Lord Elgin era) One of the
leaders of the movement that ended in the Rebellion of 1837, 110; a
conspicuous member of the Clear Grit party, 110; invited by Hincks to a
seat in Cabinet, 1851, 112; becomes commissioner of crown lands, 113;
president of Executive Council, 1863, 126; votes against his colleagues,
136. (George Brown Era) A leader of the Clear Grits, 39; plays a leading part in
movement for reform before the Rebellion, 39. (Egerton Ryerson era) Member for Middlesex
in Upper Canada Assembly, 65-66. =Bib.=: Dent, Upper Canadian
Rebellion and Last Forty Years; Dict. Nat. Biog. See also Rebellion
of 1837, Upper Canada.