James Leslie (Canadian politician)

The Honourable James Leslie
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 by	Thomas Thain
Succeeded by	None; 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 by	Henri Desrivières
Succeeded by	George-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 by	William Morris
Succeeded by	William Hamilton Merritt
Provincial Secretary of the Province of Canada
In office 1848–1851
Preceded by	Robert Baldwin Sullivan
Succeeded by	Augustin-Norbert Morin
Senator for Alma, Quebec
In office 23 October 1867 – 6 December 1873
Appointed by	Royal Proclamation
Preceded by	New position
Succeeded by	Edward Goff Penny
Personal details
Born	4 September 1786 Kair, Kincardineshire, Scotland
Died	6 December 1873(1873-12-06) (aged 87) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Political party	Lower Canada: Parti canadien, then Parti Patriote Province of Canada: French-Canadian Group, "English" Liberal Canada: Conservative
Spouse	Julia Langan
Children	at least 1 son
Education	(1) Marischal College, Aberdeen (2) University of Aberdeen
Occupation	Merchant, banker
Military service
Allegiance	Britain
Branch/service	Lower Canada militia
Years of service	1812 to 1815
Rank	Retired in 1862 with rank of Lieutenant-Colonel
Battles/wars	War 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 LaFontaine–Baldwin 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.