'Benajah Mallory' (ca 1764-
August 9 1853) was a farmer, merchant and political figure in
Upper Canada.
He was born in the
Thirteen Colonies around 1764; he was living in
Vermont at the start of the
American Revolution and served with the local militia. He married Abia Dayton and settled in
Burford Township in
Upper Canada with his father-in-law and others. When his father-in-law died, he became the community's leader. In 1798, he became a captain in the York militia. He was elected to the
4th Parliament of Upper Canada representing
Norfolk,
Oxford and
Middlesex in 1804 and was elected to the following parliament for Oxford and Middlesex. In 1806, he was appointed justice of the peace in the
London District. In 1812, with
Joseph Willcocks, he resisted efforts by
Isaac Brock to pass legislation preparing for war with the
United States. After Brock dissolved parliament, Mallory was defeated by
Mahlon Burwell in the subsequent election.
In 1813, Mallory joined a company of Canadian volunteers formed by Joseph Willcocks which fought on the American side during the
War of 1812. When Willcocks died in 1814, Mallory was given command of this unit. Mallory was convicted of treason in absentia and his lands in Upper Canada reverted to the Crown. He later settled in
Lockport, New York. In 1838, he offered to help
William Lyon Mackenzie and his followers on Navy Island. He died at Lockport in 1853.
External links
★
Biography at the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''