Anthony Manahan facts for kids

Anthony Manahan (born around 1794 – died January 21, 1849) was a businessman and important political person in Upper Canada.

He was born in County Galway, Ireland, around 1794. When he was about 14 years old, in 1808, he traveled to Trinidad. Later, in 1820, he moved to Kingston in Upper Canada. There, he started his own business as a merchant, buying and selling goods.

Anthony Manahan's Early Life

In 1824, Anthony Manahan took on a new role. He became the manager of the iron works in Marmora. These iron works were owned by a man named Peter McGill. Manahan worked there until 1831, when he returned to Kingston.

Getting Involved in Public Service

Anthony Manahan also served in the military. In 1826, he became a major in the Hastings militia. By 1830, he was promoted to colonel. This shows he was a respected leader. In 1829, he was also appointed as a justice of the peace for the Midland District. This meant he helped keep law and order in the area.

A Career in Politics

In 1836, Anthony Manahan was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada. This was a big step in his public life.

Working for the Community

During his time in the Legislative Assembly, Manahan worked on important projects. He strongly supported building a canal along the Trent River. Canals were very important for moving goods and people back then. He also spoke up about unfair treatment. He brought forward concerns that Irish Catholics in the province were being discriminated against.

From 1837 to 1844, Manahan worked as a crown lands agent. This meant he managed government land in the Midland and Prince Edward Districts.

Later Political Roles

In 1841, he was elected to the 1st Parliament of the Province of Canada. However, he soon resigned from this position. He did this so that Samuel Bealey Harrison could be elected instead. Harrison had been appointed secretary for Canada West. After resigning, Manahan was appointed as the customs collector in Toronto. This job involved collecting taxes on goods coming into the city. He resigned from this role in 1843. An audit later found that there were some issues with how money was managed during his time as customs collector. Because of this, he had to sell his property to cover the costs.

Later Years

Anthony Manahan passed away in Kingston in 1849.