Charles Richard Ogden

Charles Richard Ogden
Picture of light-skinned middle-aged man, balding, seated and looking at camera, wearing mid-Victorian business suit and holding a top-hat in one hand
Joint Premier of the Province of Canada for Canada East
In office
1841–1842
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for Trois-Rivières (six elections; for details, see succession boxes at end of article)
In office
1814–1824; 1826–1833
Solicitor General for Lower Canada
In office
1824–1833
Attorney General for Lower Canada
In office
1833–1842
Preceded byJames Stuart
Succeeded byLouis-Hippolyte LaFontaine
Special Council of Lower Canada
In office
1840–1841
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Three Rivers
In office
1841–1844
Preceded byNew position
Succeeded byEdward Greive
Personal details
Born(1791-02-06)February 6, 1791
Quebec, Old Province of Quebec
DiedFebruary 19, 1866(1866-02-19) (aged 75)
Edge Hill, England
Political partyLower Canada: Parti bureaucrates
Province of Canada: "British" Tory
Spouses
  • (1) Mary Aston Coffin (1824; her death)
  • (2) Susan Clarke (1829)
RelationsPeter Skene Ogden (brother)
Children
  • (1) 2 children with Mary (both died young)
  • (2) 4 sons, 1 daughter with Susan
ProfessionLawyer
Military service
Allegiance Britain
Branch/serviceLower Canada militia
Years of service1812 to 1814
RankLieutenant
Unit1st / 8th Battalions, Trois-Rivières Militia
Battles/warsWar of 1812

Charles Richard Ogden, QC (February 6, 1791 – February 19, 1866) was a Joint Premier of the Province of Canada for Canada East from 1841 to 1842 with William Henry Draper PM for Canada West. Odgen was a member of the Château Clique, the group of English-speaking officials who supported the Governor General, appointed by the British government. Trained as a lawyer, he developed a lucrative practice at Trois-Rivières and then Montreal. He had a lengthy career as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada.

During the Lower Canada Rebellions of 1837 and 1838, Ogden assisted the Governor General in proclaiming martial law in Montreal. He was the lead Crown prosecutor for those caught in arms during the Rebellions. Twelve were hanged.

Following the Rebellions, Ogden assisted in the implementation of the union of Lower Canada with Upper Canada. Although he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada, his standing with his French-Canadian constituents had been damaged by his actions in the Rebellions and the union.

In 1841, Ogden was initially a member of the Executive Council of the Province of Canada, the province's Cabinet, but was forced out in 1842 to make way for French-Canadians. His position as Attorney General of Lower Canada was taken by Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine, one of the leaders of the reform movement. Ogden then moved to England. He was appointed Attorney General for the Isle of Man, and later to an additional post as Registrar of the Probate Court of Liverpool. He died in England in 1866.