Bancroft, George (1800-1891). Educated at Harvard University, Cambridge, and in Germany. Secretary of the navy, 1845; ambassador to Great Britain, 1846-1849; and in 1867-1874 minister at the court of Berlin. Index: L On La Salle, 153. Ch On the difficulties encountered by missionaries, 87. Bib.: History of the United States. For biog., see Howe, Life and Letters of George Bancroft; Cyc. Am. Biog.
Bank of Upper Canada. Established 1823 with a capital of $41,364, which had increased in 1859 to $3,126,250. Its headquarters were in Toronto. After a long, prosperous career the bank stopped payment in 1866, the chief cause being the collapse in real estate in Canada West in 1857-1858. Index: Mc Increase of capital vetoed, 215; run on, 340. Bib.: See Banking.
Banking. The first bank established in Canada was the Bank of Montreal, which dates from the year 1817. The Bank of Quebec was established in 1818; and the Bank of Canada the same year. All three were chartered in 1822. A Banking Act was passed in 1841, providing a uniform system of banking. The Act of 1850 prohibited banks other than those incorporated by Parliament or royal charter from issuing notes. It also provided for a deposit with the government to be held as a guarantee; also for bank statistics. Further provisions designed to place banking on a more secure footing were incorporated in the Act of 1871. Further banking legislation was passed in 1881 and in 1890. Index: Sy Sydenham's plans for establishment of bank of issue, 327-329; idea partially adopted by Sir F. Hincks, as finance minister of Dominion, 330. Mc Report of House on system of, 161. Bib.: Johnson, First Things in Canada; Shortt, Early History of Canadian Banking; Breckenridge, Canadian Banking System; Hague, Banking and Commerce; Historical Sketch of Canadian Banking, in Canada: An Ency., vol. 1; History of the Bank of Nova Scotia; McLachlan, The Nova Scotia Treasury Notes; Walker, History of Banking in Canada.
Banner. Newspaper, published at Toronto. Index: B Founded in 1843 by Peter and George Brown, 3, 5; champions government by the people, 5; on disruption of Scottish Church, 6; controversy with the Church, 6-7; defines its political principles, 9; becomes the Globe, 10; Peter Brown writes for, 243.
Baptist Church. Like several other religious denominations in Canada, it had its origin in Nova Scotia. Some Baptists were living in Lunenburg as early as 1753. In 1800 the first Baptist Association was formed at Granville, Nova Scotia, and by 1850 there were Baptist Associations in many parts of the province. In 1828 the Nova Scotia Baptist Educational Society was established. The first church was built in Montreal, 1830; and in 1834 the Baptist Seminary of New Brunswick was founded at Fredericton. In 1852 the Baptist Missionary Society of Canada was established. Since then the Baptists have grown rapidly in all the provinces, and several Baptist colleges and institutions have been established, notably Acadia and McMaster Universities (q.v.). The Baptist Church was organized in British Columbia in 1877. Index: W First founded in Fredericton, 1813, 10; represented by one member in Legislative Council, 69. Bib.: Wells, History of the Baptist Denomination in Canada, in Canada: An Ency., vol. 3; Hill, Forty Years with the Baptist Ministers and Churches of the Maritime Provinces of Canada.
Baranof, Alexander Andrevitch (1747-1819). Governor of Russian America. Had been manager of a glass factory at Irkutsk, Siberia; grew tired of the monotonous though profitable business, and engaged in the fur trade of eastern Siberia. Appointed governor of the principal Russian trading company in America, 1790. Nine years later, the different companies were united, and Baranof moved his headquarters from Kadiak to New Archangel (Sitka), where he built a strong fort, with a shipyard, foundry, churches, and hospitals. Even a library and picture-gallery were afterwards added to this little outpost of Russian civilization. In 1818 sailed for home, and died at sea on the voyage. Index: D His rule at Sitka, 44; his character, 44; his death, 1819, 45, Bib.: Laut, Vikings of the Pacific.
Barbarie, A. W Referred to in Wilmot's speech, 104. T Represents Restigouche in New Brunswick Assembly, 18.
Barclay, Robert H. Born in Scotland. Took part in the battle of Trafalgar. Sent to Canada, and commander of British naval force on Lake Erie in 1813. On Sept. 10, 1813, defeated by the American fleet under Perry. Subsequently court-martialled, but acquitted. Died, 1837. Bib.: Morgan, Cel. Can.; Cyc. Am. Biog. See also War of 1812.
Barclay, Thomas (1753-1830). Born in New York. In 1775 served in the British army during the American Revolution, and in 1777 became major. At the end of the war moved to Nova Scotia; entered the House of Assembly, and for some time Speaker. Appointed adjutant-general of militia; served as a commissioner under Jay's Treaty; appointed consul-general at New York for the Northern and Eastern states. Index: Bk Declares war to be inevitable, 202. Bib.: Cyc. Am. Biog.
Barker, T. B. T Founder of business firm of St. John, 8.