Andrew Bannatyne | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament forProvencher | |
| In office March 31, 1875 – September 16, 1878 | |
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Preceded by | Louis Riel |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Dubuc |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Andrew Graham Ballenden Bannatyne October 31, 1829 South Ronaldsay,Orkney,Scotland |
| Died | May 18, 1889(1889-05-18) (aged 59) Minnesota,United States |
| Nationality | Scottish, Canadian |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Canada |
| Occupation | Politician, Fur trader |
Andrew Graham Ballenden Bannatyne (October 31, 1829 – May 18, 1889) was a Canadian politician, fur trader and leading citizen ofWinnipeg, Manitoba.
Bannatyne was born on the island ofSouth Ronaldsay,Orkney, inScotland and was three years old when his father, a British government fisheries official inStromness, died.[1] He joined theHudson's Bay Company as a 14-year-old apprentice clerk and set sail for Canada. His family had had a long association with the company. Bannatyne's great-grandfather was governor of a Hudson's Bay Company district inRupert's Land, his grandfather had been governor ofYork Factory, and his uncle was chief factor of the company.[2] He was assigned toSault Ste. Marie for two years, joining his uncle, and was then transferred toFort Garry.[2]
From 1846, Bannatyne was stationed atNorway House, Rupert's Land, in what is nowManitoba as a junior clerk at thetrading post. He quit the company when his contract expired in 1851[1] in order to get married and go into business for himself in the Red River Colony, where he was arrested by the Hudson's Bay Company for illegal trading, which was a violation of the company'smonopoly over thefur trade.[3] He was released in a decision by the company's London office and established what became the largest merchant and outfitting company in the Red River Colony withAlexander Begg.[3] Bannatyne became possibly the wealthiest and most influential citizen in Red River Colony.[2]
He was appointedmagistrate in 1861 and became a member of theCouncil of Assiniboia in 1868, which was the appointed administrative body of Rupert's Land.[3]
During theRed River Rebellion Bannatyne agreed to serve aspostmaster inLouis Riel'sProvisional Government of Red River Settlement in 1869 on the condition that the rebel government seek terms withCanada.[3]
After Manitoba was created as a province in 1870, the first session of theManitoba legislature was held in four rooms of Bannatyne's Winnipeg house.[2]
In 1871, he was appointed Winnipeg's first postmaster and also helped establish thefreemasons in Manitoba.[3]
He was appointed to theTemporary North-West Council in 1872. In the1874 federal election, he was defeated in his bid for a federal parliamentary seat inSelkirk, being narrowly defeated by Hudson's Bay Company officialDonald A. Smith,[2] but was elected in 1875 to theHouse of Commons of Canada as theLiberal MP forProvencher, filling a vacancy caused by the expulsion of Riel from the House of Commons and his banishment from Canada.[3] He retired from politics in 1878.[2]
Bannatyne helped organize theWinnipeg General Hospital and was involved in other business and philanthropic ventures in Winnipeg.[3] He was the first president of Winnipeg'sBoard of Trade and first president of theManitoba Club.[2]
After becoming a very rich man, Bannatyne was virtually wiped out when the land boom crashed in 1882.[1] His heavy indebtedness worsened his already poor health, and he began to winter in the southern United States in order to ease his constitution.[2]
He died in Minnesota in 1889[3] while returning fromTexas.[2]
Bannatyne Avenue and École Bannatyne in Winnipeg are named after him.[3]
He was the great-great-grandfather of singer-songwriterAmanda Rheaume.[4]