George Brown

George Brown (1818-80), Canadian journalist and statesman, born in Alloa, Scotland, and educated in Edinburgh. In 1838 Brown accompanied his father to New York City and then to Toronto, where they began to publish a newspaper, the Banner, in 1843. The following year Brown founded the Toronto Globe, which became one of the most influential political newspapers in Canadian history, as the voice of the Reform, or Liberal, Party in Upper Canada (now Ontario Province). After election to the Canadian legislative assembly in 1851, Brown became a leader of the Reform Party. He advocated a series of measures, including the purchase of the Northwest Territories, that would ensure Upper Canadian predominance in the two Canadas. He led an unsuccessful two-day government administration in 1858. In 1864 he became a leader of the coalition government that was ultimately responsible for the federation of the Dominion of Canada in 1867. He resigned from the coalition in 1865, however, because of differences with Conservative Party leader Sir John Alexander Macdonald. Defeated for reelection in 1867, Brown remained an influential political leader as owner of the Globe. His final political office was an appointment to the Canadian Senate in 1873.