Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford

Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford (August 1, 1776 – March 27, 1849) was a British politician who served as Lieutenant-Governor of Lower Canada and Governor General of British North America in the 19th century.

Related Topics:
August 1 - 1776 - March 27 - 1849 - British - Lieutenant-Governor - Lower Canada - Governor General - British North America - 19th century

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He was a Member of the House of Commons in Britain, and entered the House of Lords in 1811. In 1835 he became Lieutenant-Governor of Lower Canada, and was instructed to appease the reformists, led by Louis-Joseph Papineau, without giving them any real power. Gosford attempted to distance himself from his predecessor, Lord Aylmer, who had exacerbated the hostility of French-Canadians to the British administration. Gosford officially established the Diocese of Montreal in 1836, though it had been unofficially created a few years before. In 1837, when Papineau organized a rally against Prime Minister Lord Russell after Russell rejected Papineau's Ninety-Two Resolutions, Lord Gosford prohibited public assemblies. In August of that year Gosford dissolved the Legislative Assembly when they refused to pass his budget.

Related Topics:
House of Commons - House of Lords - 1811 - 1835 - Louis-Joseph Papineau - Lord Aylmer - French-Canadians - Diocese of Montreal - 1836 - 1837 - Lord Russell - Ninety-Two Resolutions

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In November, Lord Gosford learned of the planned Lower Canada Rebellion and had many of Papineau's followers arrested, although Papineau himself escaped to the United States. The next month, he issued a reward for the capture of Papineau, and declared martial law in Lower Canada.

Related Topics:
Lower Canada Rebellion - United States - Martial law

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Lord Gosford resigned in November 1837 and returned to Britain the next year. His eventual successor, Lord Durham, implemented the Union Act in 1840 (which Lord Gosford unsuccessfully argued against). He died in 1849.

Related Topics:
Lord Durham - Union Act - 1840

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See also: List of Canadian Governors General

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