Mount Elgin in Oxford County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Robert F. Gourlay 1778-1863

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 28, 2024

1. Robert F. Gourlay 1778-1863 Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Gourlay was a radical Scot who crusaded for social reform in Britain in the early nieteenth century. His activities in Upper Canada sent shock waves through the province. He arrived in 1817 to examine property he owned just east of here and became interested in promoting settlement. To encourage immigration, Gourlay began compiling his “Statistical Account of Upper Canada” (1822). He soon decided that government favouritism and mismanagement were stifling growth. Gourlay challenged the authorities, organizing protest meetings and publishing colourful, heated attacks on office holders. Cleared of charges of seditious libel in Kingston and Brockville, he was charged under the Seditious Alien Act late in 1818 in Niagara, jailed for eight months, then banished.

Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation

Un radical, l'Ecossais Gourlay préconise la réforme sociale en Grand-Bretagne au début du dix-neuvième siècle. Ses activités dans le Haut-Canada secouent la province Il arrive en 1817 pour inspecter une propriété qui lui appartient à l'est d'ici et s'intéresse à promouvoir la colonisation.

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Pour encourager l'immigration. Gourlay commence à compiler un ouvrage statistique sur les conditions dans le Haut-Canada publié en 1822). Il remarque bientôt que le favoritisme et la mauvaise gestion du gouvernement entravent la croissance Gourlay organise des réunions de protestation et publie des attaques pittoresques et passionnées contre les dirigeants politiques. Disculpé de l'accusation de diffamation à Kingston et Brockville, il est inculpé en vertu dune loi sur les étrangers séditieux en 1818 à Niagara, incarcéré pendant huit mois puis banni.

Fondation do patrimoine ontariens Ministère de la Culture, du Tourisme eu des Loisirs

Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1817.

Location. 42° 57.498′ N, 80° 47.555′ W. Marker is in Mount Elgin, Ontario, in Oxford County. It is at the intersection of Plank Line and Mt. Elgin Road, on the right when traveling

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 28, 2024

2. Robert F. Gourlay 1778-1863 Marker

south on Plank Line. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 333227 Plank Line, Mount Elgin ON N0J 1N0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 16 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Aimee Semple McPherson 1890-1944 (approx. 5.2 kilometers away); Lydia Chase Ranney (approx. 5.2 kilometers away); The Big Cheese, 1866 / Le Gros Fromage, 1866 (approx. 9.5 kilometers away); The Establishment of Free Rural Mail Delivery (approx. 10.8 kilometers away); First Cheese Factory/ La Première Fromagerie (approx. 11.7 kilometers away); Annandale House/ La Maison Annandale (approx. 12.1 kilometers away); The First Commercial Cheese Factory in Canada (approx. 15.2 kilometers away);

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 28, 2024

3. Robert F. Gourlay 1778-1863 Marker

Quaker Street Public School (approx. 15.2 kilometers away).

Also see . . . The Canadian Encyclopedia - Robert Fleming Gourlay.

His 2-vol Statistical Account of Upper Canada (1822) is the most systematic contemporary survey of the province. In the introduction he condemned the government of Upper Canada, especially John Strachan. He thought that general ownership of land was the only sound basis for society and proposed a land tax to fund immigrants.

(Submitted on July 2, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

1822

4. Title page of Robert Gourlay’s “Statistical Account of Upper Canada”, 1822

Source: archive.org (public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 193 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 2, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.