Nelson, Robert (1794-1873). Born in Montreal. Practised as a surveyor; and in 1812 served during the War. In 1827 elected with Louis J. Papineau to the Assembly as member for Montreal. In 1838, while residing in the United States, organized a force of 600 filibusters, and invaded Canada, making his headquarters at Napierville, and as president of a provisional government proclaimed a Canadian republic. The insurgents were defeated at Lacolle and Odelltown, and Nelson fled to the United States. In 1862-1873 practised as a surgeon in New York. Index: P Leads outbreak at Lacolle and Odelltown in 1838, 139-140. Bib.: Morgan, Cel. Can.; Christie, History of Lower Canada.
Nelson, Wolfred (1792-1863). Born in Montreal. Practised medicine and served as a surgeon in the War of 1812. One of the leaders of the Rebellion of 1837; captured and banished to the Bermudas, but released in October, 1838. In 1842 returned to Montreal and resumed the practice of his profession. In 1844 elected to Parliament for Richelieu County; inspector of prisons, 1851, and chairman of the Board of Prison Inspectors, 1859. Index: P With Papineau at St. Charles meeting, 1837, 125; preaches rebellion, 126; leads Patriotes at St. Denis, 128; said to have advised Papineau to leave the field, 132; a price put on his head, 137; captured, 137; exiled to Bermuda, 138; extent of his responsibility for the Rebellion, 143; throws blame on Papineau, 145. E His misguided attitude, 22; elected to Parliament after his return from exile, 50; his actions compared with disturbances of 1849, 76; permitted to return from exile, 91. BL Arrested after Rebellion in Lower Canada, 49; defeats Viger in election of 1844, 252; his house in Montreal attacked by mob, 324; at farewell banquet to La Fontaine, 354. C Defeated by Colonel Wetherall, 7; entrusts Cartier with a mission, 8. Mc Addresses revolutionary meetings, 328; takes the field, 358. Bib.: Dent, Can. Por.; Morgan, Cel. Can.; Christie, History of Lower Canada.
Nelson River. Rises in the Rocky Mountains, at the headwaters of Bow River, a branch of the South Saskatchewan. Length to Lake Winnipeg, 390 miles; to headwaters of the Bow, 1660 miles. The mouth of the river was discovered, and named, by Sir Thomas Button in 1612. He wintered there, 1612-1613. Captain Luke Foxe spent eleven days at Port Nelson in 1631. The river itself was explored by David Thompson in 1792. Pierre Radisson visited the mouth of the river in 1669, and built the first trading-fort there. In later years the post was repeatedly captured by the French, and recaptured by or restored to the Hudson's Bay Company, in whose hands it finally remained, under the name of York Factory (q.v.). Bib.: Bryce, Hudson's Bay Company; Laut, Pathfinders of the West and Conquest of the Great North-West.
Neptune. WM Ship in which Wolfe sailed for Quebec, 75.
Nesbitt, William. Accompanied Governor Cornwallis to Halifax. Acted as Secretary of Nova Scotia for several years. Afterwards practised the profession of law at Halifax. Attorney-general for twenty-five years. Elected to the Assembly, 1758; Speaker of the House, 1759-1783; retired on a pension, 1783. Died, 1784. Bib.: Selections from the Public Documents of Nova Scotia, ed. by Akins.
Nesle, Captain de. Ch Brings out settlers, 252.
Neuchâtel, Canton of. Hd Haldimand born in, 3.
Neutral Nation. An Iroquoian tribe, occupying the north shore of Lake Erie. First visited by the Jesuit Fathers, Brébeuf and Chaumonot, in 1640, who described them as ferocious and extremely superstitious. Despite all efforts, the attempted mission had to be abandoned. The tribe was exterminated by the Iroquois in 1650. Bib.: Parkman, Jesuits in North America; Lalemant, Relations, 1641, 1643; Ragueneau, Relations, 1648, 1651.
New Brunswick. The gulf coast of the province was discovered by Cartier in 1534; first settlement made by De Monts and Champlain, on St. Croix Island, near the entrance to the Bay of Fundy, in 1604. The same year they discovered and named the St. John River, at the mouth of which La Tour built a fort in 1635. The territory embraced in this province formed part of Acadie under French rule. It was included in Nova Scotia from the date of the cession to England up to 1784, when it became a separate province. Index: Dr Creation of province, 224. Sy Satisfactory political condition of, 265. B Confederation an issue in, and government defeated, 182-183; British government brings pressure on, in interests of Confederation, 186-187, 206. Md Its attitude towards Confederation, 123; appoints delegates to confer on question of, 125; sullen on completion of, 129; result of first general election in, 141; selection of routes for Intercolonial through, 152; boundary dispute, 152; low tariff in, before Confederation, 218; supports Mackenzie in election of 1878, 228; assents to resolution in favour of unrestricted reciprocity, 298. See also Acadia; Nova Scotia; St. John; De Monts; Champlain. Bib.: Hannay, History of Acadia and History of New Brunswick.
New Brunswick, College of. W Early history of, 10. See also New Brunswick, University of; King's College (New Brunswick).