Henry J. Friel

Henry James Friel (1823 – May 16 1869) was mayor of Bytown in 1854 and then of Ottawa in 1863 and 1868-1869.

Related Topics:
1823 - May 16 - 1869 - Mayor - 1854 - Ottawa - 1863

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He was born in Montreal of Irish Catholic parents in 1823. His family moved to Bytown, which was later renamed Ottawa, in 1827. In 1846, he purchased the Bytown Packet, a local newspaper, with John George Bell. He sold this paper in 1849; it was eventually to become the Ottawa Citizen. In 1858, he established a new paper, the Ottawa Union; he eventually sold it to a rival paper, the Ottawa Times in 1866.

Related Topics:
Montreal - Irish - Catholic - Ottawa Citizen

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Friel was elected to Bytown's first town council in 1847. He was defeated the following year, but elected alderman in 1850, 1853 and 1854, when he was elected mayor.

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He was elected alderman in the new city of Ottawa from 1855 to 1858 and in 1864, 1865, and 1867. In 1863, he was a member of the first Board of Police Commissioners for Ottawa. The board, with the aim of avoiding unnecessary expense, originally concluded that there was no need for a salaried police force in the city. However, in May that same year, the militia had to be called in to control a riot in the city. In 1865, a bylaw was introduced establishing an official police force. In 1868, while mayor, Friel posted a proclamation announcing a $2,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the assassin of Thomas D'Arcy McGee.

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He died in Ottawa in 1869 of pneumonia while still in office.

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