1786: John Molson & Other Quebec Curios
Life without John Molson might be a bit drier had he not come back to Montreal in 1786 to establish his own brewery. An Englishman by birth, he entered the brewing business [read on]
Articles by T. A. Wellington
1785: Fleury Mesplet & Other Quebec Curios
You won’t find much in the Montreal Gazette, much less (or should we say “at least”) as far their history goes. You might not even know his name, but Fleury Mesplet, a [read on]
Book of the Month Club: Inspector Colbeck’s Casebook by Edward Marston
“‘That’s Menai,’ observed Madeleine. ‘It was designed by Alexander Allan. The LNWR had almost three hundred engines with an Allan design built at Crewe. Only my [read on]
1783: Peace in Paris & Other Quebec Curios
Three sets of treaties in France would end the American Revolutionary War between the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain and their respective allies. New England, who had [read on]
1783: Benjamin Franklin Tries to Claim Canada & Other Quebec Curios
By the time the American War of Independence ended and each party sent their respective delegations to conclude peace treaties with one another, tensions were high even [read on]
1783-84: Exodus of the Loyalists & Other Quebec Curios
Despite the sheer unity and enthusiasm that most films and biopics set during the American Revolution tend to portray, most historians say that only one third of the [read on]
1781: The Canadians at Yorktown & Other Quebec Curios
During the American Revolution, the Revolutionaries managed to get not one but two Canadian Regiments in their grasp. The first Regiment participated in the successful [read on]
Book of the Month Club: Let Me Tell You by Shirley Jackson
“A writer who is serious and economical can store away small fragments of ideas and events and conversations, and even facial expressions and mannerisms, and use them [read on]
1775-1781: Meanwhile in Canada & Other Quebec Curios
While chaos erupted in the Thirteen Colonies, contrary to popular belief, things were happening in the Province of Quebec and environs. A young Alexander Mackenzie, the [read on]
1775-1781: Revolting People and Benedict Arnold & Other Quebec Curios
Name George Washington or Thomas Jefferson as one of the important figures of the American Revolution, but it does seem that somehow, a lot of the action leads back to [read on]
1775: The (American) Giant Awakens & Other Quebec Curios
The first battle of the American Revolution was that of Lexington and Concord, fought in 1775. These battles occurred in April, right on the heels of Paul Revere and [read on]
1774: The Quebec Act & Other Quebec Curios
In most respects, the Quebec Act (Acte de Québec) was a consolidation of reforms and tolerances pushed by Guy Carleton during his time as Governor of Quebec. The Act would [read on]
1768-1773: The Baron in Waiting & Other Quebec Curios
Military man Guy Carleton was one of the men who had power thrust upon him: at the time of his appointment as Governor of Quebec, his experiences had been chiefly military. [read on]
1764: Return of the Acadians & Other Quebec Curios
The British authorities were the ones that ordered the mass deportation of the Acadians starting in 1755, but they would also be the ones to allow their returns. Deportations [read on]
Book of the Month Club: A Sudden Light by Garth Stein
T. A. Wellington reviews Garth Stein’s novel “A Sudden Light”.
1763-4: Along Comes Murray & Other Quebec Curios
Though British occupation should have only started following the Treaty of Paris, the British would be quick in setting up people to rule the colony as interim leaders to [read on]
1763: The Royal Proclamation & Other Quebec Curios
While King George III is unfortunately known as the tyrant who lost the Thirteen Colonies and who suffered from at least two bouts of mental illness, re-evaluations of this [read on]
1763: The Treaty of Paris & Other Quebec Curios
While the surrender of Montreal is commonly regarded as the de facto end of the Seven Years’ War, the war would in fact continue on for another three years. This is due to [read on]
1760: The Capitulation of Montreal & Other Quebec Curios
After the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, in which both the English and the French commanders died, both sides continued taking up their arms and fighting each other. With [read on]
Book of the Month Club: The Girl Who Couldn’t Read by John Harding
“…on one occasion as I walked through the room I was stopped dead in my tracks when a lone voice rang out the words of ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ clear as [read on]