1776 in Canada

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Events from the year 1776 in Canada.

Incumbents[]

• Monarch: George III

Governors[]

• Governor of the Province of Quebec: Guy Carleton
• Governor of Nova Scotia: Lord William Campbell
• Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: John Byron
• Governor of St. John's Island: Walter Patterson

Events[]

• American Revolutionary War. United Empire Loyalists move to Upper Canada and settle (lumbering, farming starts).
• April 29 – Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Chase and Rev. John Carroll, a Jesuit, urge Canadians to send delegates to Congress, promising toleration. Franklin brings a printer and press, for a newspaper, to mould public opinion. Canadians regard Franklin as an enemy, and the priests remind Father Carroll that, unlike some of the Provinces, Britain tolerates the Romish Church.
• May 6 – As a British fleet is in sight, the Continental Army, before Quebec, weakened by disease, retires from a superior enemy, who await reinforcements, behind strong walls.
• June 8 – Attempting to surprise Three Rivers, General Thompson, with 200 of 1,800 Americans, is taken prisoner.
• June 16 – Arnold's force has retreated from Montreal.
• June 18 – General Burgoyne finds that the Continental Army has evacuated St. Johns.
• The eleventh Article of "Confederation and Perpetual Union" provides that: "Canada, according to this Confederation, and joining in the measures of the United States, shall be admitted into, and entitled to, all the advantages of this Union; but no other Colony shall be admitted to the same, unless such admission be agreed to by nine States."
• October 11 – The British are victorious on Lake Champlain.
• October 13 – On Lake Champlain, Arnold runs part of his fleet ashore, to avoid capture.
• The Jesuits' College, at Quebec, converted into barracks.
• The American colonies declare their independence. The United States Declaration of Independence is signed July 4, 1776.
• Common Sense by Thomas Paine (1737–1809) appears.
• Under Guy Carleton, Quebec withstands an American siege until the appearance of a British fleet (May 6). Carleton is later knighted.

Births[]

• January 23 – Howard Douglas, soldier, educator, author, inventor, and colonial administrator (d.1861)
• February 21 – Joseph Barss, privateer (d.1824)
• April 3 – François Blanchet, author, physician, teacher, militia officer, businessman, seigneur, politician, office holder (d.1830)
• May 20 – Simon Fraser, fur-trader and explorer (d.1862)
• July 17 – John Neilson, publisher, printer, bookseller, politician, farmer, and militia officer (d.1848)
• August 1 – Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford, colonial administrator (d.1849)
• August 5 – John Willson, judge and political figure (d.1860)

Full date unknown[]

• Colin Campbell, army officer and colonial administrator (d.1847)

Deaths[]

• March 30 – Jonathan Belcher, lawyer, chief justice, and lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia (b.1710)