INDEX AND DICTIONARY
Abbott, Sir John Joseph Caldwell (1821-1893). Educated at McGill University; studied law and called to the bar of Lower Canada, 1847. A candidate for the Legislative Assembly for Argenteuil, 1857, but defeated by Sydney Bellingham. Bellingham subsequently unseated and Abbott declared elected, 1860. Solicitor-general for Lower Canada in Macdonald-Sicotte ministry, 1862-1863, and for a few days retained same position in Macdonald-Dorion ministry. From 1867 to 1874 and from 1880 to 1887 represented Argenteuil in House of Commons. May, 1887, admitted to Macdonald ministry as minister without portfolio, and at same time appointed to Senate, where he became leader of Conservative party. On death of Macdonald, became prime minister, June, 1891; held this position until ill health compelled him to resign, November, 1892. A recognized authority on questions of commercial and constitutional law. Framed Insolvent Act of 1864, and Jury Law Consolidation Act of Lower Canada. Index: C Countenances Annexation Movement in 1849, 44-45. BL On the Annexation Manifesto, 336. Md A witness before Pacific Scandal Committee, 204. Bib.: Annual Register, 1893; Terrill, Chronology of Montreal; Thomas, History of Argenteuil and Prescott; Weir, Sixty Years in Canada; Dent, Can. Por. and Last Forty Years.
Abbott, Joseph (1789-1863). Born and educated in England. Came to Canada, 1818. Missionary of the Church of England. Wrote The Emigrant, containing information for farmers about Canada.
Abenaquis Indians. See Abnaki.
Abercrombie, James. Entered the army, and obtained a captaincy in the 42nd or 1st Battalion of Royal Highlanders, 1756. Appointed aide-de-camp to Major-General Amherst, 1759, with whom he made the campaigns in Canada of that and the following year. Appointed major of the 78th or 2nd Highland Battalion, 1760, and, in September following, employed by General Amherst in communicating to the Marquis de Vaudreuil the conditions preparatory to the surrender of Montreal, and in obtaining his signature to them. The 78th Regiment having been disbanded in 1763, retired on half-pay. Again entered active service, 1770, as lieutenant-colonel of the 22nd Regiment, then serving in America under the command of Lieutenant-General Gage; killed in the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775. Bib.: Doughty, Siege of Quebec.
Abercromby, James (1706-1781). Entered the army, and obtained commission as major, 1742; lieutenant-colonel, 1744; colonel, 1746. Sent to America with 50th Regiment, 1756; superseded Shirley and Webb in command of the army; and then resigned command to Lord Loudon. In 1757 commanded second brigade against Louisbourg. On Loudon's recall, became commander-in-chief, 1758. Led expedition against Ticonderoga, with Lord Howe as second in command. On Howe's death, the campaign became a dismal failure for the British, Abercromby being outgeneralled at every point by Montcalm. Returned to England, and in 1772 deputy-governor of Stirling Castle. Index: WM Sent to America with reinforcements, 33; commands division intended to operate by way of Lake Champlain, 54; repulsed at Fort Carillon, 55-61. Hd His recall, 21. See also Howe; Rogers; Ticonderoga; Carillon. Bib.: Parkman, Montcalm and Wolfe; Rogers, Journals during the Late War, ed. by Hough.
Abercromby, Sir Ralph (1734-1801). Commanded a brigade in Holland under Duke of York, 1793, and wounded at Nimeguen. Afterwards appointed commander-in-chief of the forces in the West Indies. Held successive commands in Ireland, Scotland, in the expedition to Holland, and, in 1801, appointed to command the expedition against the French in Egypt. Won a brilliant victory near Alexandria, but died of wounds received in the battle. Index: Bk Brock serves under, in Holland, 14. Bib.: Dunfermline, Sir Ralph Abercromby: a Memoir; Dict. Nat. Biog.
Aberdeen, John Campbell Hamilton Gordon, seventh Earl of (1847- ). A baronet of Nova Scotia. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Succeeded to peerage, 1870. Appointed viceroy of Ireland, 1886. Appointed governor-general of Canada, 1893. Again appointed viceroy of Ireland, 1905. Bib.: Morgan, Can. Men; Who's Who.
Abnaki Indians. A tribe of the Algonquian family, inhabiting a portion of what is now the province of New Brunswick. They were early converts of the French missionaries, and made common cause with the French against the English colonists. A number were brought to Canada in the seventeenth century, and formed a settlement on the St. Francis River, a few miles above its junction with the St. Lawrence. The Indian town was destroyed by Robert Rogers in 1759. Index: F Hostile to New England, 240; incited by Governor Denonville, 249; ravages committed by, 316; attack settlement at York, 326; repulsed at Wells, 327; disposed to make peace with New England, 328; French influence in opposite direction prevails, 330; attack settlement of Oyster River, 330; fired on from Fort Pemaquid under flag of truce, 331. L Ravages committed by, on New England settlements, 12; in Acadia, 228. WM Enemies of the English, 16. Bib.: Parkman, Frontenac and Montcalm and Wolfe; Pilling, Bibliography of Algonquian Languages; Vetromile, The Abnakis and their History.