 Cover page of the Colonial Advocate, September 27, 1824 | |
| Editor | William Lyon Mackenzie |
|---|---|
| First issue | May 18, 1824 |
| Final issue | November 1834 |
| Based in | York, Upper Canada |
| OCLC | 977184637 |
The Colonial Advocate was a weekly political journal published in Upper Canada during the 1820s and 1830s. First published by William Lyon Mackenzie on May 18, 1824, the journal frequently attacked the Upper Canada aristocracy known as the "Family Compact", which governed the province. Over its twelve years in publication, Mackenzie explicitly advocated constitutional change to resemble a more American government with the principles of responsible government, and working for the greater good of the people. The Colonial Advocate was used as a voice for constitutional reform, educating and inspiring citizens to take action against their government, making Mackenzie and his paper an important leader in the formation of the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837.