Weir, Lieutenant George. Came to Canada with the 32nd Regiment; served in the Rebellion of 1837 in Lower Canada; sent with despatches to the officer in command at Sorel; captured by Wolfred Nelson and sent prisoner to St. Charles; attempted to escape at St. Denis, and was killed by his rebel guards. Bib.: Kingsford, History of Canada; Christie, History of Lower Canada.
Weldon, John Wesley (1804-1885). For many years a member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, and 1843-1851 Speaker of the House. In 1865 appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick, and held the position until his death, 1885. Index: W Elected Speaker of New Brunswick Assembly, 65, 66; action brought against in Doak and Hill case, 75; his amendment on question of money votes, 94. T Appointed to New Brunswick Bench, 94. Bib.: Hannay, History of New Brunswick.
Welland Canal. Projected as a result of the War of 1812. A commission was appointed in 1816 to report on a canal between Lakes Erie and Ontario. The matter dragged along for several years, until at last, through the energy and enthusiasm of William Hamilton Merritt, a company was incorporated, and work actually commenced, in 1824. Five years later, the first vessels passed through from Ontario to Erie. In 1841 work was commenced on the enlargement of the canal, and completed in 1850. Between 1873 and 1883, the canal was deepened to 12 feet; and in 1887 to 14 feet. In the meantime, the work had been taken over by the government, and become part of the system of Dominion canals. Index: Mc Mackenzie's committee to inquire into, 264; Mackenzie a director of, 265; Francis Hincks on, 265; transactions of officials, 266, 267; report of committee, 268. BL Bought by government from private company, 1841, 98; completion of improvements, 337. See also Canals. Bib.: Kingsford, Early Canals; Merritt, Biography of W. H. Merritt; Matheson, Welland Canal (Women's Can. Hist. Soc. Trans., vol. 2).
Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of (1769-1852). Entered the army in 1787, and after serving in the Netherlands went to India in 1797, where he filled various military and civil offices until 1805. Two years later commanded the Copenhagen expedition and defeated the Danes at Kioge. Took command of the army in the Peninsula in 1808, and between then and 1814 defeated the French under Soult, Victor, Massena, and King Joseph. On his return to England in 1814 created Duke of Wellington. The following year, with the co-operation of Blücher, defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. Premier in 1828, and resigned in 1830; foreign secretary in Peel's ministry, 1834. Index: Bk His successes in the Peninsula, 119; retreats into Portugal, 123. Sy Resigns from Cabinet, 16; returns to office as prime minister, 16; resigns, 52; on dismissal of Melbourne, summoned to form a ministry, 46; his government defeated, 46; persuaded by Chief Justice Robinson to oppose Union Bill in House of Lords, 231. B Disapproves of Bagot's policy, 16, 17. Mc His connection with Catholic Emancipation Bill, 16-17. Bib.: Despatches, 1799-1832; Speeches. For biog., see Dict. Nat. Biog.
Wentworth, Sir John (1737-1820). Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Educated at Harvard. In 1765 went to England as agent of the province of New Hampshire, and in 1767 appointed governor of the province; in the same year made surveyor-general of the king's woods in North America. While governor of New Hampshire opposed the imposition of the taxes by Great Britain, but still supported British connection; compelled in 1775 to take refuge on board a British ship on which he sailed for England. Appointed lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia, 1792. Index: Dr Lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia, 290. Bib.: Dict. Nat. Biog.
West. W Of Halifax, establishes first Madras school in St. John, New Brunswick, in 1818, 87.
West India Company. Established by royal edict in 1664, under the usual conditions, that it should further the cause of colonization and religion in New France, and in return should possess a monopoly of the fur trade. The charter was revoked in 1674. In 1721, a similar charter was granted to a new West India Company. Index: F Creation of, 49; failure of, 149. Bib.: Biggar, Early Trading Companies of New France.
Western Forts. S Held by Great Britain pending settlement of Loyalist affairs, 55, 119; handed over to United States, 142. Bk Transfer of, to United States, 53. Hd Necessity for strengthening, 137; Haldimand declines to surrender till instructed by his government, 260; surrender of, 262. Dr Retained by Great Britain as security for concessions to Loyalists, 231; handed over to United States, 291, 303. See also Michilimackinac; Detroit, etc.
Westminster Conference, 1866. To settle finally the plan on which the Confederation of the provinces was to be carried out, the delegates from Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia met in the Westminster Palace Hotel, London. The Conference lasted from the 4th to the 24th of December, and passed a series of sixty-nine resolutions based on those of the Quebec Conference. The Conference resumed again in January, 1867, with the result that the British North America Act was framed, and passed by the Imperial Parliament. Index: Mc Conference meets in London, 125-127. Bib.: See also British North America Act; Confederation.
Wetherall, Sir George Augustus (1788-1868). Born in Hampshire, England. Educated at Winchester and the Military College, Farnham. In 1803 joined the regiment of Nova Scotia Fencibles formed by his father, General Sir Fred A. Wetherall. During the Rebellion of 1837-1838 in Canada in command of the troops at Montreal, defeating the rebels at St. Charles and Point Oliver. In 1838 promoted brevet-colonel; from 1843 to 1850 deputy-adjutant-general in Canada; adjutant-general, 1854; lieutenant-general, 1857, and in 1860 commanded the northern district in Great Britain. In 1865 appointed governor of the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. Index: C At St. Charles, 7. P Attacks rebels at St. Charles, 129. Bib.: Dict. Nat. Biog.