Matthew Whitworth-Aylmer, 5th Baron Aylmer | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Matthew Whitworth-Aylmer, 5th Baron Aylmer

Without doubt he was politically inept but much criticism of him was unfair. He cannot be held responsible for the crisis in Lower Canada that led to the REBELLIONS OF 1837.

Aylmer, Matthew Whitworth-Aylmer, 5th Baron

 Matthew Whitworth-Aylmer Aylmer, 5th Baron, colonial administrator (b 24 May 1775; d at London, Eng 23 Feb 1850). After a distinguished military career he was appointed governor general of British N America in 1830, taking office 4 Feb 1831. Despite his efforts to pacify the francophone majority, the Assembly of Lower Canada became increasingly radical and in 1834 passed the 92 Resolutions of grievance, one of them demanding his recall. Embittered, he inclined to the anglophone minority and thus exacerbated ethnic divisions. Blamed for the failure of conciliation, he was dismissed in 1835.

Without doubt he was politically inept but much criticism of him was unfair. He cannot be held responsible for the crisis in Lower Canada that led to the REBELLIONS OF 1837.