Baldwin, Robert

(1804-1858)

   BL Name associated with responsible government, ix; a "man of one idea," ix; his ancestry, 23; born, May 12, 1804, at York, 25; early years, 25; studies law, 25; called to the bar, 1825, 26; political views, 27; in public life, 28; drafts Willis petition, 29; enters the Legislature, 31; defeated in next election, 31; his marriage, 32; appointed to Council by Head, 38; recommended by Colborne for a seat in Legislative Council, 38-39; death of his wife, 39; his letter to Peter Perry, 39; disapproves of an elective Legislative Council, 40; resigns from Council, 41; sails for England, 42; his connection with Rebellion of 1837, 44-45; enters into correspondence with La Fontaine and other Lower Canada leaders, 63; offered by Sydenham solicitor-generalship of Upper Canada, and accepts, 63; made an executive councillor, 64; resigns office, 64; his action condemned, 64; his motives, 64-67; elected in two constituencies, 69; solicitor-general for Upper Canada, 76; his views, 76-77; his letter to Sydenham on personnel of new Cabinet, 78-79; calls meeting of Reform party, 79; commends reconstruction of ministry, 79-80; his resignation, 80; censured by Poulett Scrope, 80; his uncompromising attitude in matter of responsible government, 81; his attitude in the Legislature, 85; his speech on responsible government, 1841, 92-94; supports Neilson's motion against Union Act, 96; sides with French-Canadians on question of public works, 99; opposes Municipal Government Bill, 102; his relations with Hincks, 103; his resolutions on responsible government, 108-110; proposes candidature of La Fontaine in York County, 116; Bagot anxious to bring him into the Cabinet, 121; referred to in Draper's speech, 127; replies to Draper, 128-130; withdraws amendment, 132; becomes attorney-general for Upper Canada, 134; his defeat in Hastings--account of the election, 134-136; beaten in York, 136; elected for Rimouski, 137; attitude of Tories, 139; significance of his alliance with La Fontaine, 142-143; personal appearance, 148; references to in petition to governor, 166, 167; Kaye's description of, 169, 170-171; Davies on, 172; his part in the Assembly, 178-179; moves resolution to remove capital to Montreal, 182; his speech, 183; his bill for the discouragement of secret societies, 185-188; burnt in effigy at Toronto, 187; his University of Toronto Bill, 190-197; resigns office, 199; his interview with Metcalfe, 201; the official statements of La Fontaine and Metcalfe, giving their respective versions of the causes of the ministers' resignation, 201-209; presents to Assembly the reasons for his resignation, 213-214; returns to practise law in Toronto, 217; Wakefield on, 219; heads the agitation against Metcalfe in Upper Canada, 220; guest of honour at Toronto banquet, 220-221; his speech, 221; address before Reform Association, 221-223; speaks at public meetings, 225; address from his constituents of Rimouski, 225; tours Lower Canada, 226; his political views, 229-230; Viger's criticism of, 236; Draper on, 236; his speech in Toronto, May, 1844, 238; attacked by Buchanan, 239-240; criticized by Ryerson, 242, 243, 245-246; resigns as Queen's Counsel, 250; elected in York, 252; his University Bill, 256; moves vote of censure against the governor-general, 256; attacks Metcalfe in the Assembly, 257; referred to in Caron's letter, 260; correspondence with La Fontaine as to Draper's proposals, 261, 262, 263-265; his speech at public dinner given him in November, 1846, 268-269; his tour of Western Canada, 269; on responsible government, 273; moves amendment to address, 277; aids in foundation of Emigration Association, 278; elected in York, 279; in second La Fontaine-Baldwin administration, 281-284; proposes Morin for Speaker, 283; interview with Elgin, 285; re-elected, 286; his Municipal Corporations Act and University Act, 292-300; revision of judicial system in Upper Canada, 300-301; his part in Rebellion Losses Bill, 310, 311-312; burned in effigy in Toronto, 318-319; his boarding house in Montreal attacked by the mob, 324; petitions for removal of Navigation Act, 337; his political views, 339-340; his relations with George Brown, 342; his attitude on secularization of Clergy Reserves, 348-349; his resignation, 352-353; MacNab's tribute, 353; defeated in York and retires finally from public life, 357; lives in retirement at "Spadina," 357; made a C.B., 357; offered chief-justiceship of Common Pleas, 357; and nomination for seat in Legislative Council, 358; failing health compels him to decline both offers, 358; his death, Dec. 9, 1858, 358; value of his public work, 359-360. Sy His premature demand for strict party government, 187; consulted by Sydenham in regard to Clergy Reserves question, 247; made solicitor-general, 252; appointed to same office under Union, 283; advises Sydenham as to choice of returning officers and polling places, 290; his defection from Sydenham's government, 294, 296; opposes some of the most beneficial measures of government, 296; loses for a time sympathy of Reformers, 299, 307; Sydenham's remarks upon his manoeuvres, 305-307; opposes Sydenham's Bill for local self-government in Upper Canada, 323. R Resigns, 122; forms party with Hincks, La Fontaine, and others, 122; moves resolutions on responsible government, 122-123; in the Metcalfe controversy, 126, 128; his scheme for a provincial university, 149-152; his resignation, 152; his University Bill of 1849, 157-159, 160; secures disallowance of School Bill of 1849, 182. E On responsible government, 28; his political attitude, 30; forms ministry with La Fontaine in 1842, 31; his greatest desire the success of responsible government, 32; his conflict with Metcalfe, 34; in opposition, 45; returned in elections of 1847, 50; on parliamentary government, 51; sent for by Elgin, 52; attorney-general for Upper Canada, 53; remains in office until 1851, 85; sound views on parliamentary practice, 90; his capacity for discreet, practical statesmanship, 93; carries measure for creation of University of Toronto, 93, 94; views on Clergy Reserves, 102-103, 160, 162-163, 164; his resignation and its causes, 103-104, 112; his retirement from politics, 104, 107; and death, 1858, 104, 220; his strong views on Imperial connection, 229-230; his value as a statesman, 236. P Alliance with La Fontaine, 168. C Forms alliance with La Fontaine, 16; called to Council by Bagot, 16; resigns, 17; called to power again, 1846, 18; "great reformer and good man," 97; his influence with La Fontaine's against racial antagonisms, 97; with La Fontaine, 99; wins constitutional battle, 100; circumstances which led to his retirement from politics, 132. B Called to Cabinet by Bagot, 16; dispute with Metcalfe, 19; "father of responsible government," 21; criticized by Ryerson, 22-23; his views obnoxious to Metcalfe, 23; his wise leadership of Reformers, 24; forms administration with La Fontaine, 33; burnt in effigy at Toronto, 36; legislation of his ministry, 39; government defended by George Brown, 42; his retirement, 44, 47, 48; approves of MacNab-Morin coalition, 78; leader of movement for responsible government, 261; disintegration of old Reform party hastened by his retirement, 262. Md Brought into Cabinet by Sir Charles Bagot, 18; resigns, 1843, 18; criticized by extremists in his own party, 22; resigns from La Fontaine-Baldwin ministry, 46; approves coalition of 1854, 64; cause of his resignation, 78-79. Mc Defends Judge Willis, 133; supported by Mackenzie, 159; elected to the Assembly, 159; on banks in politics, 170; appointed executive councillor, 294; resigns, 294; goes to England, 305; opposed by Head, 305; accompanies flag of truce, 368; retires from Executive Council, 408; Mackenzie defeats government of, 492.

   Bib.: Dent, Can. Por. and Last Forty Years; Taylor, Brit. Am.; Davin, The Irishman in Canada; Baldwin, Correspondence(Toronto Public Library Mss.).