The Makers of Canada: Index and Dictionary of Canadian History - Part 51
Library

Part 51

=Mathews, Robert.= =Hd= English secretary to Haldimand, 245, 305; signs order for arrest of Du Calvet, 286; sails for England with Haldimand, 309; on Mrs. Fairchild, 314; Haldimand's interest in, 331; returns to Canada as aide-de-camp to Lord Dorchester, 332; sent to Detroit as lieutenant-governor, 332; receives bequest from Haldimand, 342.

=Maubec, Abbey of.= =L= Revenues of, a.s.signed to bishopric of Quebec, 131, 132, 136, 137.

=Maupa.s.sant.= =F= Recollet father, Frontenac's confessor, 165.

=Maurelle, Francisco Antonio.= Sailed to the North-West Coast with Quadra in 1775, and again in 1779. Embodied the results of the explorations in several charts of the coast with explanatory text, which were published in Mexico and also in London. His journal of the 1775 expedition published in Barrington's _Miscellany_, 1781. Commanded the _Princessa_, 1781-1782, on a voyage from Manilla to San Bias. =Index=: =D= On North-West Coast, 15. =Bib.=: Walbran, _British Columbia Coast Names_; Bancroft, _History of the North-West Coast_.

=Maxwell, Colonel.= =W= Sent to frontier with troops in 1839, 135.

=May, Sir Humphrey= (1573-1630). Born in England. Educated at Oxford. In 1604 groom of the King's privy chamber; in 1618 surveyor of the Court of Wards, and chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster; and in 1625 privy councillor; in 1629 one of the commissioners appointed to negotiate a settlement in North American affairs between England and France.

=Index=: =Ch= English commissioner in matter of Canada, 214. =Bib.=: _Dict. Nat. Biog._

=May, Sir Thomas Erskine.= _See_ Farnborough.

=Meade, George Gordon= (1815-1872). In 1865-1866 commanded the military division of the Atlantic, during which period prevented the Fenians from making Eastport, Maine, the base of operations against New Brunswick.

=Index=: =T= Sent to check Fenians, 107. =Bib.=: _Cyc. Am. Biog._

=Meares, John= (1756-1809). Born in England. Entered the navy, 1776, and served against the French until 1783. Entered the merchant service, 1783, and explored the coast of Alaska, 1786. Explored and surveyed the north-west coast of America, 1789. =Index=: =D= Winters 1786-1787 in Prince William Sound, 22; half his crew die of scurvy, 22; voyage of 1788, and his connection with "Nootka Affair," 26; at Canton, 1788, 27; expedition to North-West Coast, 27; at Nootka, 27; purchases land from Maquinna for fur-trading post, 27; builds _North-West America_, at Nootka,--first ship launched in what is now British Columbia, 28; explores coast southwards, 28; enters and examines Strait of Juan de Fuca, and takes possession for Great Britain, 28; sails for China, 28.

=Bib.=: _Dict. Nat. Biog._

=Medley, John= (1804-1892). Born in London, England. Graduated at Oxford, 1826; ordained priest, 1829; vicar of St. John's, Truro, 1831; of St. Thomas, Exeter, 1838, and prebendary of Exeter cathedral, 1842.

Elected first bishop of Fredericton, New Brunswick, 1845; metropolitan of Canada, 1879. =Bib.=: Mockridge, _The Bishops of the Church of England in Canada and Newfoundland_; Dent, _Can. Por._

=Meech, Lieutenant.= =WM= Makes reconnaissance of Island of Orleans, 92.

=Meilleur, Jean Baptiste= (1795-1878). Born in St. Laurent, near Montreal. Educated at the College of St. Sulpice, Montreal; studied law, and, later, medicine. Elected to the a.s.sembly, 1834, and appointed superintendent of public instruction by Sir Charles Bagot, 1842. Held this position for fifteen years, during which time forty-five educational inst.i.tutions were established. In 1862 appointed postmaster of Montreal. One of the founders of the College of L'a.s.somption.

=Index=: =BL= Appointed superintendent of public instruction by Bagot, 115. =Bib.=: Bibaud, _Dict. Hist._ and _Pan. Can._

=Melbourne, William Lamb, second Viscount= (1779-1848). Born in London, England. Educated at Eton, Cambridge, and Glasgow. Entered Parliament, 1805; Irish secretary under Canning, 1827, and under Wellington, 1828; and in 1830-1834 home secretary under Grey; for a few months in 1834, prime minister. In 1835 again became prime minister and retained office for six years; from 1837 to 1841 acted as adviser to the young Queen Victoria. =Index=: =Sy= Becomes prime minister, 45; dismissed by the king, 45; recalled to power, 46; weakness of his government, 47; his estimate of Poulett Thomson, 6; resigns, 56; returns to office, 57; Cabinet reorganized, 57. =W= Negotiations _re_ New Brunswick crown lands, 37. =Bib.=: _Dict. Nat. Biog._; _Letters of Queen Victoria_.

=Melville, Henry Dundas, first Viscount= (1742-1811). Sat for Midlothian, 1774-1790, and for Edinburgh, 1790-1802; home secretary, 1791-1794; secretary of war, 1794-1801; first lord of admiralty, 1804-1805. =Index=: =S= Secretary of state, thought Simcoe's educational schemes premature, 169. =Dr= Colonial secretary, disapproves of Dorchester's speech to Miami Indians, 283. =Bib.=: _Dict. Nat. Biog._

=Melville, Henry Dundas, third Viscount= (1801-1876). Served through Rebellion of 1837. General, 1868. =Index=: =Mc= Defends Windmill Point, 443; accepts Van Schoultz's surrender, 444. =Bib.=: _Dict. Nat. Biog._

=Membertou, Henry= (1510?-1611). Micmac sagamore; became a convert to Christianity in extreme old age. In 1604 De Monts and his band of colonists landed in Acadia, and the chief received them hospitably.

a.s.sisted the French against hostile Indians, and in 1607 with a force of Micmacs defeated the Armouchiquois Indians. In 1610 baptized, with his family and other Indians; and was counted a zealous son of the church.

Is reputed to have been over a hundred years of age at his death.

=Index=: =Ch= Aged Indian who claimed to have known Jacques Cartier, 36.

=Bib.=: Parkman, _Pioneers of France_.

=Membre, Zen.o.bius= (1645-1687). Born in France. The first novice in the Recollet province of St. Anthony. In 1675 came to Canada; in 1679 a member of La Salle's expedition to the West; and in 1682 accompanied La Salle on his voyage down the Mississippi. In 1684 again a.s.sociated with La Salle on his second expedition to the mouth of the Mississippi.

Killed at Fort St. Louis, in an Indian attack. =Index=: =L= Recollet missionary, 149, 150. =Bib.=: Parkman, _La Salle_.

=Menneval, Robineau de.= Governor of Acadia in 1689, with headquarters at Port Royal. In 1690 Port Royal was attacked by the English, and after vainly attempting to defend it, captured and sent as prisoner to England. =Index=: =F= Governor of Acadia, 272; surrenders to Phipps, 274; carried prisoner to Boston, 276; released, 277. =Bib.=: Charlevoix, _History of New France_; Murdoch, _History of Nova Scotia_.

=Mercier, Honore= (1840-1894). Born at Ste. Athanase, Quebec. Educated at the Jesuit College, Montreal. In 1865 called to the Quebec bar; and in 1872 elected to the Dominion Parliament for Rouville. In 1879 appointed solicitor-general in the Quebec provincial a.s.sembly; and in 1883 elected member for St. Hyacinthe, and liberal leader in the House.

In 1887 premier of Quebec and held office until Dec. 15, 1891, when the ministry was dismissed because of the Baie de Chaleur Railway scandal.

Introduced the Jesuits' Estates Act in the Quebec Legislature. =Index=: =C= One of the founders of _Le Parti National_ and its organ _Le National_, 30; eulogizes the clergy, 30. =Md= Heads an agitation in favour of Riel, 243; incorporates the Society of Jesus, 286; introduces and pa.s.ses the Jesuits' Estates Act in Quebec Legislature, 186, 287.

=Bib.=: Legendre, _Honore Mercier_ in _Men of the Day_; Willison, _Sir Wilfrid Laurier and the Liberal Party_.

=Mercury.= Newspaper of Quebec, established, 1805. =Index=: =BL= Voices sentiments of dominant faction in Lower Canada, 20. =P= Antagonistic att.i.tude to French-Canadians, 28; makes merry at expense of Papineau's followers, 122-123. =Bk= Editor of, forced to apologize to Legislative a.s.sembly, 93; opinions expressed in, 93, 116.

=Meredith, Sir William Collis= (1812-1894). Born in Dublin, Ireland.

Emigrated to Canada; in 1836 called to the bar of Montreal, and in 1844 appointed Q. C. From 1849 to 1859 a judge of the Superior Court for the province of Quebec; in 1859-1866 judge of the Queen's Bench; in 1866 chief justice of the Superior Court; retired in 1884. During Lord Elgin's administration as governor-general of Canada (1847-1854), one of the judges of the Seigniorial Court. In 1886 knighted. =Index=: =E= Member of Seigniorial Court, 187.

=Meredith, Sir William Ralph= (1840- ). Born in the county of Middles.e.x, Ontario. Educated at the London District Grammar School, and at the University of Toronto. Studied law, and called to the bar, 1861. Sat in the Ontario a.s.sembly, 1872-1894; leader of the opposition, 1878-1894.

Appointed chief justice of the Common Pleas Division of the High Court of Justice, 1894. Knighted, 1896. Chancellor of the University of Toronto. =Bib.=: Morgan, _Can. Men_; _Canadian Who's Who_.

=Merritt, William Hamilton= (1793-1862). Born in Westchester County, New York. Came to Canada with his parents, 1796. Served during the war of 1812-1814; took part in the capture of Detroit and the battles of Queenston Heights, Stony Creek, and Lundy's Lane. The princ.i.p.al promoter of the Welland Ca.n.a.l, opened in 1830. In 1832 elected to the Legislative a.s.sembly; and in 1845 projected the Niagara Falls suspension bridge. In 1848 president of the Council in the La Fontaine-Baldwin administration; in 1850 commissioner of public works; and in 1860 member of the Legislative Council. =Index=: =Bk= Commands troop of cavalry at Queenston Heights, 310. =E= Elected in 1848, 50; Welland Ca.n.a.l due to his enterprise, 97; a member of the La Fontaine-Baldwin ministry, 97.

=Mc= President of Welland Ca.n.a.l, 265; sues Mackenzie for libel, 265.

=Bib.=: Dent, _Can. Por._ and _Last Forty Years_; Merritt, _Hon. W. H.

Merritt_.

=Mesnard, Father.= =L= Death of, 11.

=Mesnu, Peuvret de.= =L= Clerk of the Sovereign Council, 158, 167.

=Mesplet, Fleury.= =Hd= Publisher of first books printed in Canada, 276; founder of Montreal _Gazette_, 276; publishes scurrilous sheet in French, and is arrested, 277. =S= Prints Simcoe's first proclamation, 80, 173.

=Metaberoutin.= _See_ St. Maurice River.

=Metcalfe, Charles Theophilus, Baron= (1785-1846). Born in Calcutta, India. Educated at Eton. Resident of Delhi, 1811-1820; in 1820-1827 resident of Hyderabad; and member of the Supreme Council of India, 1827.

Provisional governor-general, 1835-1836; and lieutenant-governor of the North-West Provinces, 1836-1838; governor of Jamaica, 1839-1842. In 1843 appointed governor-general of Canada, and held the position until 1845.

=Index=: =Sy= Did not believe that Sydenham was really in favour of responsible government, 312; his reactionary policy, 313. =C= On the union of 1841, 14-15; his high-handedness, 17; his political schemes, 18; const.i.tutional battle with La Fontaine as to meaning of ministerial responsibility, 97. =R= Ryerson's defence of, 126, 129-130, 163; opposition to, 126-131; confers with Ryerson on popular education, 163.

=B= Reasons for his selection as governor, 18-19; Hincks on, 18-19; rupture with his advisers, 19; his character and att.i.tude towards responsible government, 19-20, 23, 24; defended by Ryerson, 22; wins elections, 26; leaves Canada, 27; his death, 27; Brown refuses to drink his health, 27-28. =H= His narrow views and arbitrary conduct, delays full development of responsible government, 55. =BL= The great political controversy during his administration, x; on responsible government, 138; his arrival in Kingston, reception, and appearance, 155; his character and views on representative government, 156-166; his birth, 158; difficulties of his position, 166-168; relations with Baldwin and La Fontaine, 169-176; 199-214; defended by Daly and MacNab, 214-215; forms provisional government, 216; defended by Wakefield, 219, 220; agitation of the Reform a.s.sociation, 221-223; attacked by the _Globe_, 224, 225; public addresses, 226-228; supported by Stanley, the colonial secretary, in his quarrel with the Reformers, 230-234; and by Lord John Russell, Peel, and Buller, 234-235; attempts to form a Cabinet, 235-236; defended by Ryerson, 240-242; Sullivan's reply, 243-244; Ryerson's rejoinder, 245-246; forms Cabinet, 246-247; uses personal influence in elections, 1844, 249-250; wins the election, 250; elevation to peerage, 256-257; his recall, 263, 265; his illness and death, 265; succeeded by Cathcart, 265; his mistaken policy, 272, 274, 285; refuses La Fontaine's request for amnesty, 288, 291; and Baldwin's University Bill, 293; and the Indemnification Bill, 308; La Fontaine's reference to, in his farewell speech, 356. =E= Succeeds Bagot as governor-general, 32; his defects as governor, 32, 33, 39; comes into conflict with La Fontaine and Baldwin, 33-34; his views on patronage, 34-35; attempts to form a ministry, 35-36, 66, 119; and Ryerson, 36, 90; Kaye's views on, 36; raised to peerage, 37; his death, 37; Macaulay on, 37-38; Hincks on, 38; succeeded by Cathcart, 38; and the Rebellion Losses question, 64; rebels allowed to return from exile, 91. =Md= Succeeds Sir Charles Bagot as governor-general of Canada, 18; previous appointments, 18; disagrees with Baldwin and La Fontaine on question of patronage, 18, 19; difficulty in forming administration, 19; his high-handed policy, 20; carries on government with three ministers, 20; his administration sustained in general election, 21; resigns, 24; leaves Canada, 24, 25.

=W= New Brunswick House of a.s.sembly presents address to, 74; attacked by Wilmot and Fisher, 74; addresses from St. John and county of York, 74-75; his unconst.i.tutional att.i.tude, 75, 76. =Bib.=: _Dict. Nat.

Biog._; Dent, _Can. Por._ and _Last Forty Years_; Kaye, _Life and Correspondence of Lord Metcalfe_; Ryerson, _Story of my Life_; Pope, _Memoirs of Sir John A. Macdonald_.

=Methodist Church in Canada.= Can be traced back to 1772, when a party of Yorkshire Methodists settled in Nova Scotia. The first provincial Methodist Conference was held at Halifax in 1786. In 1814 the British Conference appointed missionaries to Quebec and Montreal; and in 1807 the first Methodist Conference was held at Elizabethtown (Brockville).

In 1828 the Canada Conference became independent of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States; and in 1833 the Canada Methodist Episcopal Church united with the British Wesleyans. In 1874 the Wesleyan Methodist Conference of Canada, the Canadian Wesleyan New Connexion Conference, and the Wesleyan Conference of Eastern British America became one as the Methodist Church of Canada. The first session of the General Conference was held the same year. In 1883 the Primitive Methodist Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church also became part of the Methodist Church in Canada. =Index=: =R= History of church in Canada, 38; without civil rights, 40; independent Canadian church established, 81; English Methodism in Canada, 87; Wesleyan missionaries, 89; Canadian bodies united, 287-288. =S= Bishop Mountain's low opinion of Methodist preachers in Upper Canada, 159; their earnest labours, 162-164. =Bib.=: Sanderson, _The First Century of Methodism in Canada_; Ryerson, _Canadian Methodism_; Carman, _Historical Sketch of Canadian Methodism_ in _Canada: An Ency._, vol. 2.

=Methye Portage.= Also known as Portage La Loche. Named after the methye or loche (_Lota maculosa_), which has always been abundant in neighbouring waters. This portage was an important point in the palmy days of the fur trade. It leads from the Churchill to the Clearwater, and so to the Athabaska and the immense systems of northern and western waterways that lie beyond. It was noted for its beautiful scenery, which has been described or mentioned by Mackenzie, Franklin, Back, and other northern travellers. It was first crossed by Peter Pond in 1778. The route has now been abandoned for some years, supplies for the northern posts of the Hudson's Bay Company being transported overland from Edmonton to Athabaska Landing, and thence down the Athabaska. =Bib.=: Burpee, _Search for the Western Sea_; Bryce, _Hudson's Bay Company_.

=Metiomegne.= =L= Algonquian chief, joins Dollard at Long Sault, 69.

=Metis.= =Md= Or Half-breeds, view with alarm the prospect of annexation of territories to Canada, 157; their complaints as to division of lands, 240; their sympathy with Riel, 243.

=Meulles, Chevalier Jacques de.= Intendant of New France, 1682-1686. The son of Francois Meulles, seignior of the forest of Montpensier, in Poitou; held the office of grand bailiff, or magistrate, of Orleans, before coming to Canada. Married a sister of Michel Begon, intendant of Rochefort, and father of Michel Begon, afterwards intendant of New France. =Index=: =F= Intendant, opposed to popular representation, 69; arrival of, 171; criticizes La Barre in despatches, 173, 174; on La Barre's expedition against Senecas, 188; recalled, 207; visits Acadia, and makes census, 271. =L= Succeeds d.u.c.h.esneau as intendant, 68; incapable and conceited, 186; the king's instructions to, 186, =Bib.=: Roy, _Intendants de la Nouvelle-France_ (R. S. C., 1903); Parkman, _Frontenac_.

=Mexico.= =Ch= Visited and described by Champlain, 4.

=Mezy, Augustin de Saffray, Chevalier de.= Governor of New France from 1663 until his death in 1665. =Index=: =F= Appointed governor on Laval's recommendation, 48; quarrels with Laval, 50; death of, 50. =L= Governor, sides with traders on the liquor question, 10; succeeds D'Avaugour, 41; supports the bishop at first, and then quarrels with him, 51; death of, 51. =Bib.=: Parkman, _Frontenac_ and _Old Regime_.

=Miami Indians.= A tribe of the Algonquian family, belonging chiefly to what is now Wisconsin, where the French first came in contact with them in 1690. After 1700 many removed to Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and adjoining territory. In the colonial wars they fought indifferently on both sides. In 1812 they served under Tec.u.mseh with the British against the Americans. =Index=: =Dr= Dorchester's speech to, 282. =Bib.=: Hodge, _Handbook of American Indians_.

=Miami River.= Rises in Hardin County, Ohio, and flowing south and south-west for about 150 miles, enters the Ohio River, twenty miles west of Cincinnati. =Index=: =S= General Wayne defeats Indians on, 139.

=Michel, Jacques.= =Ch= Huguenot, violent conduct of, towards Father Jean de Brebeuf, 201; his fate, 202.