CANADA HISTORY

William Lyon Mackenzie

William Lyon Mackenzie was one of the most fiery and outspoken critics of the political system in Upper Canada during the 1820s and 1830s. His passionate temperament and unwavering convictions led him not only to criticize the entrenched powers of the Family Compact, the conservative elite that controlled the colony, but also to advocate for—and eventually lead—an armed rebellion against the colonial government. Mackenzie’s life and career are pivotal in understanding the political reforms that followed in Upper Canada, as well as the development of Canadian democracy.

Born on March 12, 1795, in Dundee, Scotland, Mackenzie immigrated to Canada in 1820. Initially, he worked in manual labor, helping to build the Lachine Canal, but soon transitioned into journalism, where he found his true calling. He began writing for the Montreal Herald before launching his own newspaper, The Colonial Advocate, in Queenston, Upper Canada, in May 1824. His newspaper quickly became a voice for opposition to the Family Compact, which he saw as corrupt and self-serving, operating without regard for the common people. The Family Compact controlled both the legislative and executive branches of government, making it almost impossible for those outside their circle to have any meaningful political influence.

Mackenzie’s newspaper attracted significant attention because it directly attacked the lack of responsible government in Upper Canada. He exposed the nepotism and cronyism of the Family Compact, which further endeared him to the common people of Upper Canada. To many, he became a folk hero—someone willing to speak truth to power. His criticisms were not just ideological; they reflected the frustrations of a population that felt marginalized and excluded from political decision-making.

Recognizing that writing alone would not bring about change, Mackenzie entered politics. In 1828, he was elected to the House of Assembly for York County. His election marked the beginning of his formal political career, but 1829 would prove to be a turning point in his ideological development. That year, during a visit to the United States, Mackenzie had the opportunity to meet President Andrew Jackson. This meeting left a profound impression on him, and Mackenzie returned to Upper Canada convinced that the republican form of government in the United States—where power rested with the people—was the only solution to Upper Canada’s problems. He became increasingly vocal in advocating for reforms that would dismantle the British colonial system in favor of a more democratic, republican model.

In 1832, Mackenzie traveled to London to make a personal appeal to the British government regarding the state of affairs in Upper Canada. He was met with courtesy and sympathy, but his demands for reform were largely ignored. His aggressive stance against the Family Compact intensified, leading to physical retaliation. In one notorious incident, his printing press was destroyed by Compact supporters, who threw it into Lake Ontario. Despite these setbacks, Mackenzie continued to win re-election to the legislative assembly, becoming a persistent thorn in the side of the establishment.

In 1834, Mackenzie was elected the first mayor of Toronto, further solidifying his status as a leader of the reform movement. However, by 1836, the Family Compact mounted a concentrated effort to defeat him in the legislative elections, and Mackenzie lost his seat. This defeat further disillusioned him with the colonial political system. He came to believe that the electoral system was so rigged in favor of the wealthy and powerful that meaningful change could never be achieved through peaceful, democratic means.

By December 1837, Mackenzie’s admiration for the American Revolution and its outcomes convinced him that armed rebellion might be the only way to achieve political reform in Upper Canada. On December 6, he gathered a group of reformers, worked them into a revolutionary fervor, and led them on a march toward Toronto. The plan was to seize key Family Compact properties and businesses, ignite a larger uprising, and overthrow the colonial government. However, the rebellion was poorly organized. As Mackenzie’s men marched down Yonge Street, they encountered local militia forces. A chaotic battle ensued, with the rebels mistakenly believing their front ranks were being cut down. Panic spread, and Mackenzie’s forces scattered back to their headquarters at Montgomery’s Tavern.

The following day, on December 7, 1837, government forces regrouped and launched a counterattack on Montgomery’s Tavern, routing Mackenzie’s rebel forces with ease. Defeated and disheartened, Mackenzie fled to the United States, where he spent the next decade in exile. While in the U.S., Mackenzie attempted several times to mount a comeback, including leading cross-border raids with the help of American sympathizers, but these efforts were thwarted by Canadian militia forces.

Although the rebellion had failed, it sent shockwaves through the British government, which could no longer ignore the calls for reform in its Canadian colonies. The rebellion, along with the similar uprising in Lower Canada, prompted the British to send Lord Durham to investigate the root causes of the unrest. Durham’s famous report in 1839 would recommend the introduction of responsible government and the union of Upper and Lower Canada, laying the groundwork for future democratic reforms in British North America.

Mackenzie spent 10 years in exile, including a year in prison, before receiving a pardon and returning to Canada in 1849. By the time of his return, responsible government had been established, and many of the political reforms he had fought for were either in place or on the horizon. He resumed his political career, serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Haldimand, but the political landscape had changed. Mackenzie’s role as a revolutionary figure had diminished, and he retired from politics in 1857. His legacy, however, lived on, as the reforms he championed helped to create a more democratic and representative system of government in Canada.

Mackenzie’s life and actions had a profound impact on Canadian political development. His rebellion, though a failure, was a catalyst for change, forcing the British government to address the political grievances of its Canadian colonies. The subsequent reforms led to the emergence of responsible government, a key step in Canada’s evolution from a British colony to a self-governing nation. In this way, Mackenzie’s passionate fight for political reform, though initially unsuccessful, contributed significantly to the shaping of Canadian democracy.