1846 in Canada

"See also:"
1845 in Canada,
other events of 1846,
1847 in Canada and the
list of 'years in Canada'.

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Events

* The Irish potato famine begins, marking a change in the composition of Irish immigrating to Canada from mostly rich, well-connected, respectable Protestants to vastly poor, ill-equipped, poorly-treated Catholics.
* David Thompson begins compiling a book about his travels.
* January 29 - Many persons in the Eastern Townships are arrested on charge of counterfeiting, being afterwards tried before Sir James Stuart and other Judges. Hon L. T. Drummond and Edward Short, (afterwards judges), prosecute; H. B. Terrill (afterwards M.P.P. for Stanstead), defends. All are acquitted.
* April 18 - The commission on Rebellion Losses reports.
* 16 May - Under the leadership of British Prime Minister Robert Peel, the British Parliament repeals the Corn Laws, replacing the old Colonial mercantile trade system with Free Trade.
* June 9 - Burning of St. John's, Newfoundland.
* June 12 - Theatre burned at Quebec.
* June 15 - Britain and United States settle the long-disputed boundary across the Columbia District or Oregon Country from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific, by drawing the boundary across the mountains along the 49th Parallel to the Strait of Georgia, and leaving the Colony of Vancouver Island, established in 1843, intact.
* Mines north of Lake Superior are explored.
* The new canal, from Lachine, overcomes a fall of 42 ft., in 8 1/2 miles, by two locks of 13 ft. and two of 8 ft. Equal fall of the whole river would wield 4,500,000 horse power.
* Hon. John Young writes the Economist, favoring a bridge across the St. Lawrence.

Births

* January - Daniel Hunter McMillan, Manitoba politician
* January 18 - James Evans, linguist
* May 1 - Pierre-Amand Landry, politician and jurist
* July 31 - Thomas Roddick, physician
* December - John Howatt Bell, Premier of PEI
* December 8 - Antoine Audet, politician

Deaths