Peter de Blaquière facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Boyle de Blaquière
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| Born | April 26, 1783 |
| Died | October 23, 1860 (aged 77) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Parent(s) | John Blaquiere (father) |
Peter Boyle de Blaquière (born April 26, 1783 – died October 23, 1860) was an important political leader in early Canada. He is best known for being the very first chancellor of the University of Toronto.
Peter Boyle de Blaquière was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1783. His father was John Blaquiere. His family had roots in France.
When he was younger, Peter served in the Royal Navy. He was on a ship called HMS Director. He even served under Captain William Bligh, who is famous for the mutiny on the Bounty.
Peter fought in important naval battles, like the Battle of Camperdown. After his time in the Navy, he lived in Southampton, England.
Moving to Canada
In 1837, Peter Boyle de Blaquière moved to Upper Canada. This area is now part of the Canadian province of Ontario. He chose to settle in a town called Woodstock.
During the Upper Canada Rebellion, he helped keep order. He was a lieutenant-colonel in the local army, known as the Oxford militia.
Political Role
Peter Boyle de Blaquière became a key figure in Canadian politics. In 1839, he was chosen to join the Legislative Council. This group helped make laws for Upper Canada.
Later, in 1841, he joined the Legislative Council for the new Province of Canada. This was when Upper and Lower Canada joined together. In 1842, he became the warden for the Brock District. This meant he was in charge of local government there.
University Leadership
One of Peter de Blaquière's most important roles was in education. In 1849, a school called King's College changed its name. It became the University of Toronto.
Before this, King's College was connected to the Church of England. But the University of Toronto became independent, meaning it was no longer controlled by the church. In 1850, Peter de Blaquière was chosen as its first chancellor. This is like being the head of the university.
Because the University of Toronto became independent, Bishop John Strachan started a new church-based university. This was Trinity College, founded in 1852. Trinity College later joined with the University of Toronto.
Peter de Blaquière left his role as chancellor in 1853. He resigned because he disagreed with some changes to how the university was run. He passed away in Yorkville, Toronto in 1860.
