Ireland Monument

Francis Hincks was born on the 14^th of December 1807 in County Cork, Ireland. He came to Canada when he was 24 years old, and entered into business in Toronto.   He established the liberal newspaper, ‘The Examiner’.  He became the leader of the Liberal Party and won a seat in the First United parliament in 1841. He worked tirelessly for responsible government and for the abolition of the seigneurial system of landholding.

            When he was made Premier of the Canadas in 1851, he negotiated a commercial treaty with the United States.  He also made a great effort for the development of mines and railways.

            In 1854 he left the Liberal Party to help in the formation of the moderate reformist, by bringing the Irish, English, French, Protestants, and Catholics to the new Liberal Conservative Party.   In 1869, two years after confederation, he was elected the Finance Minister in the Conservative Government of John A. MacDonald.   He was Finance Minister until 1873.  He later became editor of the Montreal Journal of Commerce.  He wrote five books, the best known being The Political History of Canada.  Frances Hincks died on the 18^th of August 1885 in Montreal.