Jacob de Witt | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for Beauharnois County (two elections) | |
| In office 1830–1838 Serving with Charles Archambault | |
| Preceded by | New position |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished on suspension of the constitution |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Leinster (by-election and general elections) | |
| In office 1842–1847 | |
| Preceded by | Jean-Moïse Raymond |
| Succeeded by | Norbert Dumas |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Beauharnois | |
| In office 1848–1851 | |
| Preceded by | Eden Colvile |
| Succeeded by | Ovide Le Blanc |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Chateaugai | |
| In office 1854–1857 | |
| Preceded by | New position |
| Succeeded by | Henry Starnes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 17, 1785 Windham, Connecticut |
| Died | March 23, 1859 (aged 73) Montreal, Canada East, Province of Canada |
| Political party | Lower Canada: Parti patriote Province of Canada: French-Canadian Group |
| Spouse | Sophronia Frary |
| Children | At least 4 children |
| Occupation | Businessman, banker |
Jacob De Witt (September 17, 1785 – March 23, 1859) was a businessman, banker and political figure in Lower Canada and Canada East, Province of Canada (now Quebec). Beginning in the hardware trade, he expanded into steamship transportation on the River St. Lawrence and then banking. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada and generally supported the Parti patriote, but did not participate in the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837. After the union of Lower Canada and Upper Canada into the Province of Canada, he was elected to the new Legislative Assembly. He initially supported the reform measures of Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine, but gradually became more radical, ending his political career as member of the Parti rouge and calling for the voluntary annexation of Canada to the United States. He continued in business, particularly banking, until his death in 1859.