Edward Ellice

Ellice, Edward

Edward Ellice, fur trader, merchant, politician (b at London, Eng 23 or 27 Sept 1783; d near Glengarry, Scot 17 Sept 1863). He was the son of a prominent London merchant and was educated at Marischall College, Aberdeen, before being sent to Canada, where he assisted in 1804 in the merger of the XY COMPANY and NORTH WEST COMPANY. As a NWC partner, Ellice (always known as "Bear") was active in the pamphlet warfare with Lord SELKIRK, and he was a major party in the negotiations for unification of the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Co, completed in 1821. For years thereafter he was involved in litigation over the claims against the NWC. From 1818 on Ellice almost continuously, until his death, represented Coventry in the House of Commons, and after the Whigs took office in 1830 he held several Cabinet posts 1830-34. With large landholdings in Canada, including the seigneury of Beauharnois, Ellice followed developments there closely and behind the scenes greatly influenced British policy.