{"id":5458,"date":"2025-02-26T11:58:23","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T15:58:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/?p=5458"},"modified":"2025-02-26T11:58:37","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T15:58:37","slug":"the-story-of-james-johnston-a-fiery-businessman-and-political-figure-of-bytown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/eternal\/the-story-of-james-johnston-a-fiery-businessman-and-political-figure-of-bytown","title":{"rendered":"The Story of James Johnston: A Fiery Businessman and Political Figure of Bytown"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In 1815, James Johnston immigrated to Canada, and by 1827, he had leased property in Bytown. His story as a businessman and political figure is both intriguing and, at times, controversial. Johnston frequently found himself entangled in conflicts, which only fueled ethnic and religious tensions. Read on as <a href=\"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/uk\/\">Ottawa Yes<\/a> explores the life and legacy of this remarkable figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_76 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a13e81d8400e\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a13e81d8400e\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/eternal\/the-story-of-james-johnston-a-fiery-businessman-and-political-figure-of-bytown\/#Who_Was_James_Johnston\" >Who Was James Johnston?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/eternal\/the-story-of-james-johnston-a-fiery-businessman-and-political-figure-of-bytown\/#Civilian-Military_Conflict\" >Civilian-Military Conflict<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/eternal\/the-story-of-james-johnston-a-fiery-businessman-and-political-figure-of-bytown\/#A_Brief_But_Noteworthy_Newspaper_Career\" >A Brief But Noteworthy Newspaper Career<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/eternal\/the-story-of-james-johnston-a-fiery-businessman-and-political-figure-of-bytown\/#Brutal_Attacks\" >Brutal Attacks<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/eternal\/the-story-of-james-johnston-a-fiery-businessman-and-political-figure-of-bytown\/#Political_Career\" >Political Career<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/eternal\/the-story-of-james-johnston-a-fiery-businessman-and-political-figure-of-bytown\/#Work_in_the_Department\" >Work in the Department<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/eternal\/the-story-of-james-johnston-a-fiery-businessman-and-political-figure-of-bytown\/#A_Final_Failed_Attempt\" >A Final, Failed Attempt<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_Was_James_Johnston\"><\/span>Who Was James Johnston?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ottawayes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/02\/ad_4nxeqe9lx_amrpc8f5jwhodvbtzxbahhf93x-5oe5ob41ljqqlofaq8dagkrgyaoxuuxnurv2yp1mxteteu6xbrumsrqeprps919tlrg9wtv3bfczhrzeg-pu5roi-klrhbnvxtjttwkey6sqszqsu6aqmxlvuzfzwixdu.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>By profession, Johnston was a blacksmith, but in Bytown, he became a merchant and auctioneer, acquiring property and expanding his business. Historical records indicate that he owned substantial land holdings in the young Bytown and surrounding settlements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many sources describe Johnston as an aggressive and hot-tempered man, known for his sharp wit and biting satire. His outspoken nature and unwavering directness earned him both loyal supporters and fierce enemies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Johnston became known in history as a political figure in Upper Canada (later Western Canada, now the province of Ontario).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Civilian-Military_Conflict\"><\/span>Civilian-Military Conflict<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In May 1831, James Johnston and Alexander James Christie were reported to have physically confronted and threatened Joseph N. Hagerman, a military lawyer responsible for overseeing the Rideau Canal. This incident occurred amid rising tensions between the civilian population and military forces. At the time, Hagerman was in court defending a group of soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Three years later, Johnston, an Irish auctioneer, complained to Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Colborne, alleging that his Scottish rivals, including the well-known Dr. Christie, were plotting against him. Johnston escalated the conflict by accusing the Scottish magistrates of ethnic bias. This complaint was echoed by local Irish magistrate Daniel O\u2019Connor, who also had grievances against the authorities. However, in July 1835, O\u2019Connor dismissed Johnston\u2019s claims as driven by jealousy. Later that year, in October 1835, Johnston\u2019s home was burned down by unidentified individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ottawayes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/02\/ad_4nxe1vcd5inhpqpe1iddn8ukn1js_qcosxx7nwlrel5w1fqlrbgthfi9vgquknbql93qeib6gtdejsxpdpaljs6tdnvueufojwdosui5zqeouq1z6ygkn84rzfaaclshltvmx5y2zaakey6sqszqsu6aqmxlvuzfzwixdu.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Brief_But_Noteworthy_Newspaper_Career\"><\/span>A Brief But Noteworthy Newspaper Career<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Though short-lived, Johnston\u2019s newspaper venture is worth mentioning. On February 24, 1836, he published two issues of his newspaper, Bytown Independent and Farmer\u2019s Advocate. A review of these issues provides insights into Johnston\u2019s personality and the issues he cared about most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was particularly vocal about the rights of \u201ctrue Britons\u201d \u2013 specifically, Irish settlers and their descendants. Some articles in his paper focused solely on defamation and personal attacks. After just two editions, Johnston sold his printing press to Alexander James Christie. This publication later evolved into Bytown Gazette and Ottawa and Rideau Advertiser, a newspaper that would go on to become Ottawa Citizen in 1851, a name still well known to modern Ottawans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ottawayes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/02\/ad_4nxdimc5iglnh5a-tcxnsifz2fiwuszqhslvctnbcnzf0bumoe5q4qrb8ulqyjm9wz8ml3fdqekib9aq4eohfkqvzmwjkz8k7jnsllcc63jtzwr58leybfu-1y46qar96jnn8ec479qkey6sqszqsu6aqmxlvuzfzwixdu.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brutal_Attacks\"><\/span>Brutal Attacks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>James Johnston\u2019s fiery temperament and aggressive behaviour led to a series of violent attacks against him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On January 2, 1837, during a meeting to elect the Nepean Town Council, Johnston and several other men were brutally beaten. It was known that Peter Aylen had instigated the unrest. The cause of the conflict was religious antagonism, which had already led to a rupture in business and political relations between Aylen and Johnston.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On March 9, 1837, Johnston was attacked by Aylen\u2019s followers, who believed he had played a role in Aylen\u2019s arrest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Later that month, another shocking incident occurred. Three lumbermen attempted to kill Johnston as he was crossing Sappers Bridge. He sustained serious but non-fatal injuries. The attackers were arrested and sentenced to three years in prison.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ottawayes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/02\/ad_4nxcgmm377it-pc7mtlgzscvrvivrghlxg50y4eduyx9bmxxjc4_dvui1uogumpirggfwzckjgtd2huzze7pandadwjcx3thtzomoqruo8m230psmls3xhngriqa73dl7f4_fgloy_akey6sqszqsu6aqmxlvuzfzwixdu.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Political_Career\"><\/span>Political Career<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Johnston\u2019s political career was as turbulent as his personality. He ran as a reformer in Carleton in 1834 and 1836, but lost both <a href=\"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/uk\/eternal\/istoriya-vyboriv-v-ottavi\">elections<\/a>. Each time, he challenged the results, alleging fraud, but his protests were dismissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1836, Johnston lost to Edward Malloch. Their already strained relationship worsened after the defeat. In April 1840, their conflict escalated into a full-blown brawl during a session of the Court of King&#8217;s Bench, ending in bloodshed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, March 1841 brought Johnston a victory, as he was elected in Carleton after withdrawing from the Bytown race in favour of Stewart Derbyshire. His campaign focused on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Exposing abuses committed by the previous assembly;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promoting the election of independent politicians, subtly referring to himself;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Denouncing policies that harmed the timber industry;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promising not to be a &#8220;servile flatterer of either the government or the people,&#8221; unlike his predecessors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite high religious and national tensions, the election in Carleton remained relatively peaceful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.ottawayes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2025\/02\/ad_4nxeya54trzlnksg5edi1qmd8d9d_zvpn04aj1bjri72vwd_jimxcyzf8pjvbkblnludxdxqdckqfot93lhqvqeqs4rt1phhaezr-0w07jsmiwaxx7kxxpf3jwinbiefimrup_cq0key6sqszqsu6aqmxlvuzfzwixdu.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Work_in_the_Department\"><\/span>Work in the Department<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As an elected official, Johnston actively advocated for the interests of the Ottawa Valley and Bytown, believing the town would one day become the seat of government. He was a frequent speaker, sometimes excessively so, and was recognized as an effective debater. His business acumen and ability to strike at the right moments made him a formidable political force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Johnston\u2019s political stance reflected his affiliation with the Orange Order. A major fallout with Daniel O\u2019Connor led to his opposition to a bill banning secret societies in late 1843. This did not stop him from winning re-election in 1844 with ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although he had started as a reformer, by the 1840s, Johnston had shifted towards voting as an independent moderate conservative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His friend and ally, William Dunlop, was a staunch opponent of responsible government. Dunlop resigned from the Assembly to take a position as Superintendent of the Lachine Canal. Johnston soon followed suit, citing government ungratefulness and constant ministerial pressure as his reasons for stepping down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Final_Failed_Attempt\"><\/span>A Final, Failed Attempt<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Johnston made one last attempt to return to politics, running in a by-election in December 1847, but failed once again. Soon after, he was attacked by two bandits on Barrack Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Johnston\u2019s later years were marked by poverty and alcoholism. He was married to a woman named Jane, but even this did not save him from his destructive habits. By the time of his death, the value of his estate had plummeted to just 700 pounds sterling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite his combative nature and numerous conflicts, James Johnston remained a popular figure in Bytown. His funeral attracted the largest crowd ever seen in the town, later renamed Ottawa in 1855. This was yet another testament to the remarkable influence he wielded in life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 1815, James Johnston immigrated to Canada, and by 1827, he had leased property in Bytown. His story as a businessman and political figure is both intriguing and, at times, controversial. Johnston frequently found himself entangled in conflicts, which only fueled ethnic and religious tensions. Read on as Ottawa Yes explores the life and legacy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":419,"featured_media":5475,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[490],"tags":[2357,2359,2364,2360,2368,2367,2365,2362,2358,2366,2356,2176,2355,2363,2361,2369],"motype":[491],"moformat":[93],"moimportance":[100,101,104],"class_list":{"0":"post-5458","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-pro-polituky","8":"tag-alcohol-addiction","9":"tag-bytown-businessman","10":"tag-civil-and-military","11":"tag-controversy","12":"tag-ethnic-and-religious-tensions","13":"tag-feud","14":"tag-hot-temper","15":"tag-james-johnston","16":"tag-james-johnston-in-bytown","17":"tag-johnston-campaign","18":"tag-marriage","19":"tag-political-career","20":"tag-political-views","21":"tag-popular-figure","22":"tag-violent-attacks","23":"tag-widespread-reputation","24":"motype-eternal","25":"moformat-longrid-korotka","26":"moimportance-aktualna-bilshe-roku","27":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","28":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5458","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/419"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5458"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5458\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5474,"href":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5458\/revisions\/5474"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5458"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=5458"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=5458"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ottawayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=5458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}