Goderich by Galt

In June 2027 the town of Goderich on the shores of Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada will be celebrating its 200th birthday.  Founded by John Galt and Dr William "Tiger" Dunlop on behalf of the Canada Company, it became the permanent home of Dunlop and his brother.  Dr Dunlop was born in Greenock, Scotland in 1792.  You can read more about his interesting family on The Greenockian Blog.

After founding Guelph in April 1827, Galt writes that the the Directors of the Canada Company disapproved of its name and – 

“I was ordered to change the name from Guelph to Goderich.  In reply, I endeavoured to justify what had been done, and as the name could not be altered, I called another town, founded about this time at Lake Huron, by the name of his Lordship.”

“His Lordship” was Frederick John Robertson, 1^st Earl of Ripon (1782-1859) and, given a peerage, known between 1827 and 1833 as Viscount Goderich.  He was Prime Minister of Britain from 1827-1828 after the death of George Canning.  Goderich had held various political positions throughout his career including Secretary of State for the Colonies.  You can read more about Viscount Goderich on the website Museum of the Prime Minister.

In a letter from Guelph dated 25 November 1828 to his friend the Edinburgh publisher William Blackwood Galt writes - 

“I am not sure that when I last wrote I mentioned the founding of another city – a sea-port, Goderich, on the lovely shores of Lake Huron.  In the course of the summer, under the directions of the Doctor [Dunlop] we began the settlement and I opened a road through the forest upwards of seventy miles in length thus rendering it practicable to pass from Lake Ontario to Goderich.”

Galt, along with Dunlop and Charles Prior had been responsible for clearing a route from Lake Ontario via Guelph to Goderich at Lake Huron.  This was to make the journey easier for new settlers.  After clearing the route, Dunlop's residence, a log cabin known as The Castle was one of the first buildings to be constructed in the town and had been built at the top of the cliff facing the Lake.  On hearing that it was finished, Galt travelled by gunboat Bee (which had been placed at his disposal), along Lake Huron to visit his friend.  Dunlop came out on a canoe to meet him.  On that first evening they celebrated with a bottle of champagne (Days of the Canada Company).

Arms of the Canada Company.

After being recalled to Britain, Galt made a last journey along this route in winter by sleigh to bid farewell to Goderich where by now, land had been cleared and a few houses built.  It was a bittersweet occasion.  He wrote – 

“My adieu to Lake Huron was a final farewell; for, from the moment I lost sight of its waters, I considered my connection with the Company closed.”

Galt would never return to the places he founded in Canada, and ended his days in ill health in Greenock in 1839.

Who was John Galt ?

While probably best known in Britain as an author, writing was just one of John Galt's interests and activities.

In Canada he is better known as one of the founders of the Canada Company, set up to encourage emigration to what was then known as Upper Canada.  Galt was the founder of Guelph and Goderich - two successful settlements in the area.

Plaque commemorating John Galt, Founder of Guelph 1827

What is often forgotten is that John Galt was also a lobbyist - helping to ensure that the legislation to allow the construction of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal which opened in 1822.  This was just one of the many successful Parliamentary efforts he was involved in.

Poet, dramatist, editor, reviewer, travel writer - are just some of the other descriptions which could be attributed to John Galt.

It is also important to remember that he was also a son, brother, husband, father as well as being a friend to many people of his day.  His home life as a child in Irvine and Greenock greatly influenced his writing.  His ear for how ordinary people spoke makes those of his books written in Scots a joy to read.

So, the question is - who was John Galt?  

The answer very much depends on who is asking the question!

Address to John Galt by the people of Guelph

In 1829 John Galt was ready to leave Canada and return to Britain to face questions from the directors of the Canada Company who were dissatisfied with his running of the Company.

John Galt founder of the Canada Company.

The people of Guelph, the town he had successfully founded just two years previously showed their support for him shortly before his departure.  It was signed by 144 heads of families.  It read -

"Sir – We, the undersigned inhabitants of the town and township of Guelph, learning that you are about to leave us, beg to express our sincere regret, that we should be deprived of your presence, and the satisfaction and pleasure it has ever afforded us.  We trust and hope, that your absence from amongst us will not be of long duration and that you will accomplish the objects of your journey, whatever that might be.

We would wish to express  to you the obligations which you have conferred upon us, in the prosperity which had flowed upon us ever since we became united with you and the Canada Company – many of us having come here in dependent circumstances, who are now in fair way to became independent, and all having improved their circumstances under your fostering care.  By the measures you have adopted, over lands in many instances, have in the space of eighteen months doubled or tripled their value, and we do not look on our obligations as the less, that the Canada Company has shared in the advantage.

You have set an example to the province in the formation of proper roads and bridges, and showed by what means the progress of the settlement of the colony can be accelerated a hundredfold, by your measures, which have created this town and township.  Finally, we beg you to accept of our best wishes for your happiness and prosperity whatever you may be, and we request you to thank the Canada Company for all the benefits they have conferred on us, and the greatest of these we consider their having sent you amongst us."

Unfortunately John Galt did not ever return to Canada despite this wonderful recognition of what he had achieved in the short time he had been there.  On his return to Britain, money problems and bad health stopped him from travelling abroad.  He continued to write and published several novels and articles for various publications.  He died in Greenock in 1839.  However his three sons all settled in Canada and contributed to the success of that country.