Benjamin Holmes (Canadian politician)

Benjamin Holmes
Formal portrait of a white-haired, light-skinned man sitting in a chair, wearing mid-Victoria clothing
Benjamin Holmes in 1863
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Montreal (two-member constituency)
In office
1841–1844
Serving with
Preceded byNew position
Succeeded byLewis Thomas Drummond
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Montreal (two-member constituency)
In office
1848–1851
Preceded byPierre Beaubien
Lewis Thomas Drummond
Succeeded byWilliam Badgley
John Young
Personal details
Born(1794-04-23)April 23, 1794
Dublin, Ireland
DiedMay 23, 1865(1865-05-23) (aged 71)
Montreal, Province of Canada
SpouseÉlisabeth Arnoldi (m. 1819)
RelationsAndrew Fernando Holmes (brother)
Daniel Arnoldi (father-in-law)
Charles Dewey Day (son-in-law)
OccupationBusinessman
Military service
Allegiance Britain
Branch/serviceLower Canada militia
Years of service1813 to 1815
RankLieutenant (War of 1812); Lieutenant-Colonel (Lower Canada Rebellion)
UnitCanadian Light Dragoons (1813–1814)
Canadian Light Fencibles (1814–1815)
Montreal Light Infantry (1837–1838)
Battles/warsWar of 1812
Lower Canada Rebellion

Benjamin Holmes (April 23, 1794 – May 23, 1865) was a Lower Canada businessman and political figure. He served in the militia of Lower Canada during the War of 1812, including a period of captivity by the American forces. He joined the Bank of Montreal shortly after it formed in 1817, and rose to be the cashier (general manager) by 1827. He was twice a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. In spite of his service in the War of 1812, he was a supporter of annexation by the United States in the late 1840s, and a signatory of the Montreal Annexation Manifesto. He became a vice-president of the Grand Trunk Railway, and also a director of the Bank of Montreal.