Sifton, Clifford (1861- ). Educated at Victoria University. Removed to Manitoba and called to the bar of that province, 1882. Elected to the Manitoba Assembly, 1888; attorney-general and minister of education, 1891; elected to the House of Commons for Brandon, 1896; minister of the interior in the Laurier administration, 1896; resigned, 1905; agent of British government before Alaska Boundary Commission, 1903; chairman of Dominion Commission on the Conservation of Natural Resources, 1909. Bib.: Morgan, Can. Men; Canadian Who's Who.
Sillery. Village on the north side of the St. Lawrence, four miles above Quebec. It was originally founded by Noel Brulart de Sillery in 1637 as a settlement for Christian Indians. Index: WM Vaudreuil orders fifty men to be posted at, 162; post at, captured, 183. L Settlement of Christian Indians at, 74. Bib.: Charlevoix, History of New France; Lovell, Gazetteer of Canada.
Simcoe. A lake situated between Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay; named after Governor Simcoe's father. It was discovered by Champlain in 1615, and was within the field of the famous Huron Mission of the Jesuit fathers. La Salle crossed the lake in 1680, on his way west to the Mississippi; and the following year dated one of his letters from the long portage between Toronto and Simcoe. Index: S Formerly Lac aux Claies, 207; present name given by Simcoe, 207.
Simcoe, Frank. S Son of Governor Simcoe, killed in storming of Badajoz, 179, 222.
Simcoe, John (1714-1759). Entered the navy and promoted captain, 1743; served on the court martial of Admiral Byng, 1756-1757. Commanded H. M. S. Pembroke at Quebec, 1759, and killed in action. Index: S Father of John Graves Simcoe, 15; sails with Admiral Saunders for Quebec, 16; his death, 16; story of his previous imprisonment at Quebec not authenticated, 16; his anticipation of the future greatness of Canada, 17; Lake Simcoe named after, 207. Bib.: Morgan, Cel. Can.
Simcoe, John Graves (1752-1806). S Speaks in House of Commons on Constitutional Act, 7, 8; birth and family, 15; death of his father, 16; educated at Eton and Oxford, 17; obtains commission as ensign, 18; ordered to America, 18; obtains command of Queen's Rangers, 19, 22; proposes to enlist Boston Negroes, 19; sails with Howe for Halifax, 20; promoted to captaincy, and sails for New York, 20; wounded in action, 22; major in command of Queen's Rangers, 22; his Military Journal, 23; improves organization of his corps, 24; his intense devotion to British cause, 25; promoted to be lieutenant-colonel in America, 25; with a few men disperses considerable body of rebel militia, 26-29; wounded, 27; goes into winter quarters at Oyster Bay, Long Island, 30; operations with right column of army, 30; taken prisoner, 30; released, 31; makes plan to carry off Washington, 32; attached to expedition to Virginia under Benedict Arnold, 33; captures enemy's stores, 34; defeats superior force of the enemy at Spencer's Ordinary, 35; health impaired, 36; after surrender of Cornwallis, sails for England on parole, 37; promoted to be lieutenant-colonel, 39; recruits his health at home in Devonshire, 40; his marriage, 40; released from parole, 41; poetical gifts, 41-43; elected to Parliament, 44; speech on impeachment of Warren Hastings, 44; appointed to governorship of Upper Canada, 45; correspondence with Grenville and Dundas upon Upper Canada matters, 45, 46; desires appointment of a bishop, 46; sails for Canada in Triton, 47; brings out various commissions, 47; delay in swearing in, 48; sworn in, 49, 79; arrives in Upper Canada and proceeds to Niagara, 50; his eagerness to welcome Loyalist emigrants, 56; favours aristocracy, 69, 70, 197; his proclamation on the subject of persons entitled to special distinction as Loyalists, 71; his estimate of the Indians, 75; issues proclamation announcing county divisions, 80; opens first session of Legislature, 82; his speech from the throne, 83; deals with marriage question in Upper Canada, 86-88; strongly supports bill to prevent introduction of slaves into Upper Canada, 90; his speech on closing of fifth session, 95; his satisfactory relations with Legislature, 97; detects "republicanism" in some members of the Legislative Council, 97; changes his opinion, 98; goes to England on leave of absence, 99; his advice regarding Benedict Arnold's application for a grant of land in Upper Canada, 104; receives grant of 5000 acres of land as colonel of Queen's Rangers, 104; endeavours to check abuses of fur trade, 106; desires to promote trade between Upper Canada and the United States, 107; his endeavours to assist the farming community, 110, 198; his scheme to provide currency for the province, 111, 112; his apprehension of war with United States, 117-132, 144; sends his secretary to confer with British minister at Philadelphia, 117; his estimate of Brant's motives, 125, 126; his difficulties with the Indian department, 126-128; loved and respected by Indians, 128; moves to York, 129; his relations with Lord Dorchester strained, 130-132; correspondence with Dundas exhibits petulance, 130, 131; anticipating war, sends Major Littlehales to consult British minister, 134, 144; receives proposition from Spanish governor of Louisiana, 134, 136; despatch from Lord Dorchester leads him to fortify post at rapids of Maine, 136, 210; returns to Niagara, 136; protests against occupation by Americans at Sodus Bay, 137; his despatch to the Duke of Portland explaining his proceedings, 143-144; his conviction of loyalty of Upper Canada militia, 151; his opinion of Washington, 153; believes in a church establishment for Upper Canada, 155; his influence in the framing of the Constitutional Act, 156; a soldier, not a statesman, 157; desires appointment of a bishop and offers portion of his salary to meet the expense, 158; his scorn of dissent, 160; his opposition to repeal of Marriage Act, 161; prefers Roman Catholics as instructors for Indians, 166; his efforts in cause of education, 166-170; desires establishment of university, 168; and of grammar schools, 169; his admonitions to the king's printer, 174; donations to Agricultural Society of Upper Canada, 175; his social influence, 180; entertains Prince Edward, 183, 184; also United States commissioners to the Indians, 184-186, 203; entertains the Duke de la Rochefoucauld-Liancourt, 187, 214; receives visit from Alexander Mackenzie, the explorer, 188; changes name of Niagara to Newark, 195; appoints lieutenants for the more populous counties, 197; defends measure against criticism of secretary of state, 198; makes official tour through western Canada, 198-201; visits Detroit and examines the fort, 200; impressed by site of present city of London, and proposes to make it the capital of the province, 200; begins a military road (Dundas Street) from Burlington Bay to the Thames, 201; surveys Toronto harbour, 202; hears of declaration of war with France, 203; changes name of Toronto to York, 203; decides to spend winter of 1793-1794 there, 204; brings over his "canvas house" from Niagara, 204; his plans for the defence of province, 204, 205; these not approved by Lord Dorchester, 206; goes north to Georgian Bay and examines harbour of Penetanguishene, 207; makes road north from York, and names it Yonge Street, 207; renames Lac aux Claies, "Lake Simcoe," 207; his anticipation that road to the west by Lake Simcoe would supersede that by the Ottawa, 208; spends winter of 1794-1795 at Kingston, 211; spends summer of 1795 at Niagara, 214; moves government to York (1796), 215; plans new government buildings, 215; applies for leave of absence on account of ill health, 216; leave granted with flattering terms of approval, 216; leaves York, July, 1796, but does not sail from Quebec till November, 217; does not return to Canada, 217; offered governorship of Lower Canada, 218; sent to St. Domingo to quell insurrection, 219; retires on account of ill health, 219; placed in command at Plymouth, 220; appointed commander-in-chief in India, 220; sent instead to Portugal on important diplomatic and military mission, 220, 221; ill health compels his return to England, 221; his death, 222; monument to his memory erected by county of Devon, 222; his great desire to establish the British constitution in Canada, 223; hardships of his life, 224; his hostility to the United States, 224, 225; his military genius, 225; the king's opinion of his military service, 226; his ideas for Upper Canada, 227; founder of the Upper Canada bureaucracy, 227; did not allow for forces at work in a new country, 228; too little control of his temper in controversy, 228; his courtesy and high-mindedness, 229, 230; Pitt's appreciation of his integrity, 231; his lofty aims, 232. Dr Raises and leads Queen's Rangers, 202; appointed first governor of Upper Canada, 258; appointment not agreeable to Dorchester, 259; arrival of, 270; his character and opinions, 271; builds fort on Miami River, 284; relations with Dorchester, 293; situation in Upper Canada, 294; his service in Revolutionary War, 295; colonel of Queen's Rangers, 295; disposed to overlook Dorchester, 296; sustained by home government, 297; his opinion that towns might best grow about military posts, 302. B Favours close relations of church and state, 52. E On the system of colonial government in Upper Canada in 1792, 18. R His educational policy, 35; favours an established church, 47; plans endowment of a university and grammar schools, 51-53; the university question, 133. Bk Entertains distinguished guests at Navy Hall, 57. BL On the new constitution, 7; his phrase that the constitution of Upper Canada was "the very image and transcript of that of Great Britain," 58; his plans for higher education, 105-106, 191. Mc Lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, his views on the Constitutional Act, 54. Bib.: Journal of Operations of the Queen's Rangers. For biog., see Morgan, Cel. Can.; Dent, Can. Por.; Dict. Nat. Biog.; Read, Life of Simcoe.
Simcoe, Mrs. Wife of preceding. Index: S Centre of society at Niagara, 179; receives present of a horse, 181; spends winter of 1794-1795 at Quebec, 213.
Simonds, Charles. W Delegate to England to represent New Brunswick grievances, 24; member of Rump government, 101. T Elected for St. John County, 10; elected Speaker, 18; protests against defection of Wilmot and Gray, 24; re-elected Speaker, 41. Bib.: Hannay, History of New Brunswick.
Simpson, Sir George (1792-1860). MS His influence, 8; sent to Athabaska, 1820, 215, 231-232; his character and appearance, 215; his account of the Athabaska district, 216; his executive ability, 217-218; an autocrat, 226; love of pomp and show, 232; his voyage from York Factory to Fort Vancouver, 1828, 232; McDonald's narrative, 232; at Norway House, 233-236; at Fort Chipewyan, 236; crosses the mountains by way of Peace River, 237; in New Caledonia, 237-238; descends Fraser River, 238; reaches Fort Vancouver, 239; his return, 239; headquarters at Lachine, 241; influence in Canadian affairs, 241; knighted, 1839, for his services in furthering exploration, and his strong support of the government in 1837, 243; influence of his opposition to Papineau, on Red River affairs, 244-245; appoints Adam Thom as recorder of Red River, 245; his visits to Fort Garry, 247; relations to the local clergy, 247-248; his journey round the world, 249; his narrative, 249; its authorship, 249; leaves London, March 3, 1841, 250; at Montreal, and ascends the Ottawa, crosses Georgian Bay, and Lake Superior to Fort William, 250-251; at Fort Garry, 251; crosses the plains to Edmonton House, 252; at Fort Vancouver, 253; voyage to Sitka and return, 253; visits California, the Sandwich Islands, and Sitka again, 255-256; crosses Siberia, 257-259; reaches London, 260; his letters to James Hargrave, 261; his marriage, 262; life at Red River, 263-266; opposition to liquor traffic among the Indians, 267; dislike for John Tod, 268-269; method of appointment of high officers, 269; gives evidence before parliamentary committee, 272; his views on agriculture, 273-277; defends Hudson's Bay Company, 272-278; his death, 1860, at Lachine, 279; John McLean's opinion of, 279-280; his management of Hudson's Bay Company's affairs, 280, D Expedition on behalf of Hudson's Bay Company, 51; visits New Caledonia in 1828, 109; received by James Douglas at Fort St. James, 109; at Fort Vancouver, 110. Bib.: Narrative of a Journey Round the World. For biog., see Morgan, Cel. Can.; Bryce, Manitoba and Hudson's Bay Company; McLeod, Peace River.
Simpson, John (1807-1878). Born in Helmsley, Yorkshire, England. Elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada, 1858, for the town of Niagara, and sat for the same constituency until 1864. Member of the Executive Council and provincial secretary, 1864; assistant auditor-general, 1864-1878. Index: B Retires from ministry with Foley and Buchanan, to make room for George Brown, Mowat, and Macdougall, 159. Bib.: Dent, Last Forty Years.