James Leslie (Canadian politician)

James Leslie
Sepia head and shoulders of older man, fair skin and hair, balding, wearing mid-19th century business suit, with a black stock tie
Senator James Leslie
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for Montreal East
In office
1824 – 1838 (four elections)
Serving with Hugues Heney (1824–1832)
Antoine-Olivier Berthelet (1832–1834)
Joseph Roy (1834–1838)
Preceded byThomas Thain
Succeeded byNone; constitution suspended
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Verchères
In office
1841–1848 (one by-election and two general elections)
Preceded byHenri Desrivières
Succeeded byGeorge-Étienne Cartier
Member of the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
In office
1848–1867
President of the Executive Council of the Province of Canada
In office
11 March 1848 – 14 September 1848
Preceded byWilliam Morris
Succeeded byWilliam Hamilton Merritt
Provincial Secretary of the Province of Canada
In office
1848–1851
Preceded byRobert Baldwin Sullivan
Succeeded byAugustin-Norbert Morin
Senator for Alma, Quebec
In office
23 October 1867 – 6 December 1873
Appointed byRoyal Proclamation
Preceded byNew position
Succeeded byEdward Goff Penny
Personal details
Born4 September 1786
Kair, Kincardineshire, Scotland
Died6 December 1873(1873-12-06) (aged 87)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Political partyLower Canada: Parti canadien, then Parti Patriote
Province of Canada: French-Canadian Group, "English" Liberal
Canada: Conservative
SpouseJulia Langan
Childrenat least 1 son
Education(1) Marischal College, Aberdeen
(2) University of Aberdeen
OccupationMerchant, banker
Military service
Allegiance Britain
Branch/serviceLower Canada militia
Years of service1812 to 1815
RankRetired in 1862 with rank of Lieutenant-Colonel
Battles/warsWar of 1812

James Leslie (4 September 1786 – 6 December 1873) was a Canadian businessman and political figure. An immigrant from Scotland in 1804, he became a successful Montreal businessman and was one of the founders of the Bank of Montreal.

He was active in Canadian politics for half a century, particularly as a member of the LaFontaineBaldwin ministry from 1848 to 1851, the first Province of Canada government selected under the principle of responsible government.

He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada in 1824, holding the seat until dissolution of the constitution of Lower Canada in 1838. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from 1841 to 1848, and then a member of the Legislative Council until Canadian Confederation in 1867. He was one of the first members appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1867.

He died in office in 1873.