Originally from Dundee, Scotland, William Lyon Mackenzie moved to York in Upper Canada and established a newspaper called the “Colonial Advocate”. He used the paper to write about his opposition to the “Family Compact” – the ruling political elite in the colony.
The politics of Upper Canada during the 1820s & 1830s was controlled by a group of leaders referred to as the “Family Compact”. Members of this group included the Anglican Archdeacon of York, and later Bishop of Toronto, John Strachan.
Captured by American soldiers during the Battle of York in 1813, the first Mace of Upper Canada was displayed at the US Naval Academy Museum until it was returned to Ontario in 1934. It is currently on display at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
Following the 1985 general election that resulted in a minority Conservative government for Premier Frank Miller, Ontario’s Liberals - led by David Peterson - and the New Democratic Party – led by Bob Rae – agreed to form an accord in order to force the Conservatives from power.
