Biography
George Brown was born on November 29th 1818 in Alloa, Clackmannashire, Scotland. His family immigrated to New york and than to Canada in 1843. He started The Globe in 1844 and it was one of his major forms of influence. Brown was strongly against slavery and published a number of articles in his newspaper. Brown was voted into the legislative assembly of the union of Canada in 1851 and was very influential in Canadian politics from there on. Brown married Anne Nelson in 1862 while visiting his homeland of Scotland. He brought back the reform party and was later part of the great coalition. He would later, leave the coalition after trade-law negotiations with the Americans were opened up and his colleagues did not agree with Browns free-trade proposition. Brown was involved in every conference and made many ideas concerning the formation of government which would be involved with the new Dominion. In 1867 he ran for a Premier of Ontario as well as a place in the House of Commons and although he was seen as the leader of the liberals he was not the victor in either of his democratic pursuits. Brown's life ended dramatically and without warning as on the morning of March 25th 188o he was shot by a former employee in front of the globe office in Toronto. Although Brown managed to push the gun and move its trajectory to his leg, the wound became infected and was ravaged by gangrene, and on May 9th 188o (15 days later) brown passed away. He is not forgotten though, as his political impact, George Brown College, his legacy and The Globe will live on in Canada for many generations to come.
Click to set custom HTML
Political Importance
Brown's political importance was key in the Confederation of Canada as well as politics before and after confederation. He used his Newspaper The Globe make his views apparent and to showcase some of the issues Brown was concerned about. For example before Confederation, Brown used his newspaper to display his support against slavery. Brown later, along with other supporters freed political deadlock in the United Province of Canada. Brown was key in almost every conference, especially in the Charlottetown Conference. He proposed an elected senate that would be included in the New Federal Government. Then at the Quebec and London conferences he made many propositions for the 72 resolutions, some declined and included. He also produced many influential speeches throughout debates in Conferences and in Legislature. He was without a doubt one of the most influential personalities in Canadian history as well as in the time leading up to Confederation.