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Sir John Christian Schultz, businessman, medical practitioner, politician (born 1 January 1840 in Amherstburg, Upper Canada; died 13 April 1896 in Monterey, Mexico). Schultz settled at the Red River Colony in 1861. He practiced medicine but increasingly occupied himself with furs, retail trade and real estate. A figure of controversy, he played a key role in the troubles of 1869-70 and left a legacy of bitterness. Schultz later became a wealthy businessman. He was an MP 1871-82, a senator 1882-88 and lieutenant-governor of Manitoba 1888-95.
During 1865-68, Schultz was owner of the Nor'Wester, and in its columns attacked the "tyranny" of the Hudson's Bay Company. He became the leader of the small but noisy Canadian Party, which demanded annexation to Canada and which roused Métis fears.
Imprisoned by Louis Riel's provisional government on 7 December 1869, Schultz escaped on 23 January 1870. He later made his way to Ontario, where he and others of the Canada First movement raised Protestant ire over the execution of Orangeman Thomas Scott. No mention was made of the deaths of Hugh Sutherland and Norbert Parisien for which Schultz and others were responsible.
