Draper William Henry 1801-1877 Born In London England In His
youth ran away to sea and served on an East Indiaman. Came to Canada in
1821 and taught school at Port Hope; subsequently studied law and began
practice at York. Elected to Assembly of Upper Canada for city of
Toronto in 1836, and made a member of the Executive Council. During the
Rebellion of 1837 acted as aide-de-camp to the lieutenant-governor. In
March, 1837, became solicitor-general, and in 1840 promoted to office of
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attorney-general. After the union of the provinces retained in the
Executive Council as attorney-general of Upper Canada. It fell to his
lot to pilot the ministry through the stormy debates of the first
session, and to resist the attacks of Baldwin, Hincks, and their
fellow-Reformers. In September, 1842, saw the necessity of resigning and
gave way in order that the La Fontaine-Baldwin ministry might be formed.
In 1843 appointed to the Legislative Council, where he led the
opposition. On the resignation of the La Fontaine-Baldwin ministry in
December, 1843, accepted office with Viger, and in the exciting election
held in the autumn of 1844 obtained a bare majority for the new
ministry. In January, 1845, resigned his seat in the Legislative Council
and elected to the Assembly for London. An unsuccessful attempt to
secure the support of the French-Canadian Reform section discredited him
with the Tories of Upper Canada, and in May, 1847, withdrew from the
Cabinet, and shortly afterwards resigned his seat in the Assembly.
Appointed puisne judge of the Court of Queen's Bench for Upper Canada,
and in 1856 made chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas. In July,
1863, succeeded Archibald McLean as chief justice of Upper Canada, and
in 1869 appointed president of the Court of Error and Appeal. Continued
to act in this position until his death. =Index=: (Sir John A Macdonald era) Joins Metcalfe's
administration, 19; seeks seat in Assembly, 23-24; his administration,
24; recommends Macdonald for office of commissioner of crown lands, 26;
accepts judgeship and withdraws from public life, 27-28; commissioner to
represent Canada before Hudson's Bay Committee, 1857, 83. (Baldwin / La Fontaine / Hincks era) Appointed
attorney-general, Upper Canada, 1841, 76; his previous career, 77; his
character, 77; Baldwin's attitude to, 80; pledged to support the
administration, 81; succeeds in carrying on government, 85; in
discussion as to speakership, 88; his public policy, 90; defines his
position on question of responsible government, 91-92, 94; his nickname
of "Sweet William," 92; his successful policy, 95; difficulties with
French-Canadians, 96-97; realizes need for reconstruction of ministry,
115, 122; resigns office, 123; reads Bagot's letter to La Fontaine in
the Assembly, 124; his speech in the Assembly, Sept. 13, 1842, 127;
resigns, 132; appointed to Legislative Council, 177; opposes transfer of
capital to Montreal, 183; opposes Baldwin's University Bill, 197;
supports Metcalfe, 212; executive councillor, 216; referred to in George
Brown's speech, 224; visits Lower Canada, and reports to Metcalfe on
political situation, 236-263; forms ministry, 246; attorney-general for
Upper Canada, 247; secures narrow majority in elections, 1844, 250-251;
his political dexterity, 253-255; his University Bill, 256; his scheme
for obtaining French-Canadian support, 258-235; his policy, 266-267; his
government dying, 276; resigns and becomes puisne judge of Court of
Queen's Bench, 276; his University Bill, 293; his municipal legislation,
299; his Indemnification Bill of 1845, 307-308. (Lord Sydenham era) Solicitor-general,
introduces Union resolution in Upper Canada Legislative Assembly, 206,
213; brings in bill for settlement of Clergy Reserves question, 245;
made attorney-general, 252; appointed to same office under Union, 283.
(George Brown Era) Becomes Metcalfe's chief adviser, 20; Globe criticizes his attempt
to form a coalition, 27. (Sir Georges E. Cartier era) Forms ministry, 17. (Lord Elgin era) Acknowledges
necessity of bringing French-Canadians into Cabinet, 31; forms ministry
under Lord Metcalfe, 35; his retirement, 43. (Egerton Ryerson era) Ryerson's public
letters to, 100, 120; in the Metcalfe controversy, 126; presents case
for King's College before Legislature, 149; his Provincial University
Bill, 153; bill defeated, 155. =Bib.=: Dent, Can. Por. and Last Forty
Years; Pope, Memoirs of Sir John A. Macdonald; Read, Lives of the
Judges. For his own writings, see Morgan, Bib. Can.