William Allan (banker)

William Allan
Born	1770 Near Huntly, Scotland
Died	1853-07-11 Toronto, Canada
Occupation(s)	Banker, businessman, politician, justice of the peace, judge
Known for	President of the Bank of Upper Canada; member of the Legislative Council of Upper Canada; first president of Toronto's Board of Trade

William Allan, JP (1770 – July 11, 1853), was a prominent Scottish Canadian figure known for his roles in banking, commerce, and politics.

Life and career

Born near Huntly, Scotland, Allan emigrated to the British province of Quebec around 1787 with the assistance of family acquaintance John Forsyth of Forsyth, Richardson & Company. He relocated to Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario a year later. By 1795, Allan had settled in York (present-day Toronto), serving as an agent for Forsyth, Richardson & Company. Two years afterward, he co-established a general store alongside Alexander Wood and eventually acquired full ownership.

In 1800, Allan was appointed justice of the peace for the Home District and became York’s postmaster in 1801. During the War of 1812, he held the rank of major in the York militia and played a key role in negotiating surrender terms when American troops occupied York; his business suffered looting amid the hostilities. Additionally, he provided supplies to British forces and participated on a commission responsible for assessing war-related loss claims.

Allan served as an associate judge during the 1818 trial involving members of the North West Company accused in the death of Governor Robert Semple following the Battle of Seven Oaks. That same year, he assumed the position of agent for the Bank of Montreal in York. In 1821, Allan co-founded the Bank of Upper Canada and held its presidency from 1822 until 1835.

During the Types Riot, Allan observed events from his nearby property but refrained from direct involvement; witnesses reported that he was familiar with some participants.

He also held a directorship at the Canada Company, which managed land development and sales within the province. In 1834, Allan was appointed governor of the British America Fire and Life Assurance Company. Between 1829 and 1831, he chaired the Home District Council.

A close ally of Reverend John Strachan and associated with the Family Compact, Allan joined Upper Canada’s Legislative Council in 1825. He became the inaugural president of Toronto’s Board of Trade in 1834 and entered the Executive Council in 1836 following widespread resignations protesting Lieutenant Governor Francis Bond Head’s administration. After Upper and Lower Canada united in 1841, Allan stepped down from both councils.

He passed away in Toronto in 1853. His son, George William Allan, later served as mayor of Toronto and as a senator.

External links

• Moss Park Home of William Allan – Lost Rivers