George Klyne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Klyne
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Manitoba Legislative Assembly portrait of George Klyne
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| MLA | |
| In office 1871–1874 |
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| Constituency | Ste. Agathe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 August 1828 Riviere Arthabaska, North West Territories |
| Died | 23 December 1906 (aged 78) |
| Resting place | near Wolseley, Saskatchewan |
| Spouse | Monique Berthelet dit Savoyard |
| Children | 14 children |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Jane Klyne McDonald (sister) Archibald McDonald (brother-in-law) Ranald MacDonald (nephew) |
| Occupation | farmer |
George Klyne (born August 13, 1828 – died December 23, 1906) was an important Métis leader and politician. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1871 to 1874. Before that, in 1870, he was part of the Convention of Forty, representing the area of Pointe-à-Grouette. He was also one of the first people elected as an MLA in Manitoba, representing the Ste. Agathe area.
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Who Was George Klyne?
George Klyne was a Métis politician. The Métis are a group of Indigenous people in Canada. They have a unique culture and history. George Klyne helped shape the early government of Manitoba. He also took part in the Southesk Expedition in 1859. This was a journey to explore parts of Western Canada.
His Early Life
George Klyne was born in 1828 near the Athabasca River. His father, Michel Klyne, was French-Canadian. He worked for the HBC at Jasper House. The HBC was a very old trading company. George's mother, Suzanne Lafrance, was Métis.
George had 13 brothers and sisters. One of his sisters, Jane Klyne, married Archibald McDonald. He also worked for the Hudson's Bay Company. George went to school in Saint Boniface, Manitoba.
A Time of Change: The Red River Rebellion
George Klyne was a Francophone Métis. This means he spoke French and was Métis. He was involved in the Red River Rebellion. This was a time of conflict in 1869-1870. It was about the rights of the Métis people.
During this time, George Klyne was against some of the actions of Louis Riel. Riel was another important Métis leader. Because of this, Riel's men held George Klyne for about 30 days. After he was released, George was chosen to represent the Francophone people of Pointe-à-Grouette. He joined the Convention of Forty. This group had 40 members. Half were Francophone and half were Anglophone (English-speaking). They worked to create a new government for Manitoba.
Becoming a Politician
In 1870, George Klyne ran for election. He wanted to represent the area called Ste. Agathe. He won the election by only five votes! His opponent was Alexander Morin.
George Klyne served as an MLA from 1871 to 1874. An MLA is a Member of the Legislative Assembly. They are elected to make laws for their province. He tried to get elected again in 1878. However, he was not allowed to run that time. This means he was disqualified.
His Family Life
On January 13, 1863, George Klyne married Monique Barthelais dit Savoyard. They had a very large family. George and Monique had 14 children together.
