Bytown (Province of Canada electoral district)

In the first general election of 1841, Lord Sydenham was actively involved. He took all possible steps to ensure that a majority of the members elected to the Legislative Assembly would be supporters of the union of the Canadas. During a tour of Canada West, he stopped in Bytown and urged three of the declared candidates for the seat to withdraw in favour of his preferred candidate, Stewart Derbishire, even though Derbishire had no connection to Bytown. As part of his arguments, Sydenham told them that it was due to his influence that Bytown had received its own seat, separate from Carleton County.^[7] The three candidates withdraw, but a fourth, William Stewart continued in his candidacy. When the vote was held in March, 1841, Derbishire was elected, by a vote of 52 to 29. Stewart issued two public protests, accusing the returning officer of partisanship, but did not formally contest the result.^[8][9]

The district was abolished on July 1, 1867, when the British North America Act, 1867 came into force, creating Canada and splitting the Province of Canada into Quebec and Ontario.^[10] It was succeeded by electoral districts of the same name in the House of Commons of Canada^[11] and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.^[12]

This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Proclamation, Governor General Lord Sydenham, February 27, 1841. Reproduced in the Journal of the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada, First Parliament of the Province of Canada, First Session, 1841, pp. ix–xi.