1790 in Canada

Events from the year 1790 in Canada.

← 1789 1788 1787 1790 in Canada → 1791 1792 1793
Decades:	1770s 1780s 1790s 1800s 1810s
See also:	History of Canada Timeline of Canadian history List of years in Canada

Incumbents

• Monarch: George III

Governors

• Governor of the Canadas: Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
• Governor of New Brunswick: Thomas Carleton
• Governor of Nova Scotia: John Parr
• Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: John Elliot
• Governor of St. John's Island: Edmund Fanning

Events

• British Captain George Vancouver begins his three-year survey of northwest coast of North America .
• Spain signs the Nootka Convention, ceding the Pacific Northwest to England and the United States.
• October 7 New York consents to Vermont's admission to the Union, with cessation of New York's jurisdiction, in the disputed territory.
• Lower Canada is divided into three districts, instead of two.

Births

Main article: births in 1790

Further information: Category:1790 births

Deaths

Main article: Deaths in 1790

Further information: Category:1790 deaths

Historical documents

• Gov. Gen. Lord Dorchester has been asked by British officials for comments on proposed bill to create Lower and Upper Canada provinces

• Britain allows families from U.S.A. to bring into North American colonies "any negroes," furniture, farm tools and clothing duty free

• Comment on buildup of British army generally and minister's "determination that a strong force shall be kept up" on North American frontier

• Dorchester is asked to return British-held frontier posts, but they are "considered as a kind of guarantee for the discharge" of U.S. debt to Britain

• Montrealer says Dorchester expects U.S. move against frontier posts, but neither fur trade nor Canada is worth going to war over

• U.S.A. may want British-held posts but will be disappointed by them, as "spirit of rivalship" will make fur trade no advantage to them

• Agricultural Society in Canada publishes advice, including on growing hemp and manuring with plaster of Paris

• Formation of U.S. militia anticipates "an attack from the sea-side by an European power, aided by our sworn enemies settled on our extreme left"

• Expected war between Spain and Britain might include latter's request to march troops across U.S. territory to attack Spain's Mississippi posts

Map: North and Central America divided into territories claimed by Britain, Spain, U.S.A., and France

Lower Canada

• Chief Justice says "Heaven has[...]smiled upon [us with] plenty and peace" and prospect of constitution "uniting us more closely to Great Britain"

• Anticipating "long-looked for House of Assembly," letter-to-the-editor suggests club "to discuss public questions, and so train ourselves up"

• "Great smallpox mortality amongst the inhabitants, particularly the younger part," is because of "aversion of the lower ranks to inoculation"

• "Citizens of the Province of Quebec" sign petition calling for creation of university to teach "learned Languages and Sciences (excepting Theology)"

• Newly arrived Gen. Clarke formally opens his commission as lieutenant-governor and takes "usual Oaths [and] his Seat at the Council-Board"

• Alliance of U.S.A. with Spain prompts reinforcement of Quebec City garrison; Canadian militia among at least 10,000 men ready for action

• In their petition, millers, bakers and others in bread trade note "years of scarcity and distress" ended with last harvest's "abundance"

• Coadjutor bishop Charles-François Bailly de Messein openly criticizes Bishop Jean-François Hubert, claiming support of "Clergy and Citizens"

• Back country land granted to French emigrants motivated by "distracted state of France" and "free exercise of their religion" in Canada

• Gov. Gen. Lord Dorchester decides Gaspé is part of lower Canada because of commercial connection and current remoteness of Fredericton

• "A great success" - St. Lawrence River North Shore fisheries report taking 10,723 seals to produce 97,579 gallons of oil

• Quebec City fire society's new reservoir near Bishop's Palace holds 200 hogsheads of water and sits beneath building with "one of the largest Engines"

• Editorial notes hanging with dissection carried out in Montreal for first time, and hopes it will be crime deterrent as well as medical lesson

• All 3 prisoners in Quebec City jail, in close confinement for 3+ years without friends or assistance, "are really starving" on 1 lb. of bread each per day

• For sale: "Young Healthy Negro Woman capable of most kind of business; good cook and house-maid, understands milking cows and making butter[...]"

• Moses Israel Levi of Quebec City cites "very scurvy appellations [bestowed] on my predecessors the Jews" in anonymous letter-to-the-editor

• Edward Conway says Mary Warren has left him and "as a Prostitute I recommend her to the Universe, I being the Fourth Man she has elop'd from"

• Among many school books for sale is "The Academic Speaker, or a selection of parliamentary debates, orations, odes, scenes and speeches[....]"

• Offering free tuition to 6 "scholars," teacher cites civil servant salaries that "may not be adequate to the numerous exigencies of a large family"

• Premiere of "Liberty Asserted, or Canada Restored," historical play set "among the five nations of Iroquois; the plot is very interesting"

• Quebec City perfumer has lavender, rose and musk essences, but also "bears grease" for hair and "Prince of Wales's opiate for the teeth"

Upper Canada

• Dorchester intends to create "loyal Aristocracy [in Upper Country] by opening the road to affluence and honors to all [who have] diligence and fidelity"

• Leader of Upper Canada to be John Graves Simcoe, not John Johnson, whose connection to U.C., including much property, would be "not desirable"

• John Johnson reports incomplete surveying has "greatly retarded the settlement of the Country," with would-be settlers discouraged and gone

• Six Nations of the Grand River leaders request deed to set territory's boundary, citing Haudenosaunee in U.S.A. wishing to come over to join them

• George Clinton calls Joseph Brant "a Man of very considerable Information, Influence and Interprize, and[...]his Friendship is worthy of Cultivation"

• Dorchester on Indian Department "irregularity" (disobedience, private sale of royal presents, absence without leave) and Kanien’kéhà:ka discontent

• Former Queen's Rangers commander Simcoe proposes similar "corps" for U.C.; interesting details of commission-buying and soldiers moonlighting

• Surgeon's mate of 60th Regiment, asked to settle in area lacking "medical assistance," petitions for 2,000 acres of land (and receives grant)

• U.S. Secretary of War advises governor of Northwest to assure British posts that campaign against Indigenous nations is not aimed at them

• John Butler advises Haudenosaunee of New York not to enter, even individually, any conflict between U.S. and either British or "Southern Indians"

• Former missionary among Indigenous people on north side of Lake Ontario suggests U.S. mission on border to influence "Northern Indians"

Nova Scotia

• Disagreement between Council and House of Assembly over latter's sole right to handle money bills threatens government's expiring spending authority

• Provincial agriculture society wants county societies formed to learn best ways to grow grains, peas, Indian corn, potatoes, turnips etc.

• U.S. Treasury Secretary learns of Nova Scotians caught smuggling fish into Boston, and difficulty telling their fish from U.S. crews' catches

• Assembly committee reports 83 "transient Poor" in Halifax, and is "at a loss what Remedies can be applied" to lessen their number or expense

• Bishop of Nova Scotia consecrates Shelburne's Anglican church in ceremonies including 6th Regiment's "exceeding good Singers and Powerful Voices"

• Bishop Inglis, reminding Lt. Gov. Parr of promise of 1,000 acres of bishop's choosing, asks 967 acres bordering his "Aylesford Mountain" property

• Shipwrecked brig's master believed holding "considerable Sum of Money" owner had on board; $100 reward offered plus 5% of money recovered

• Missing "Negro Boy Slave Named Dick," about 20, "stoops a little in walking, and has lost [part] of his great Toe of the left Foot;" 40 shilling reward

• Middle-aged man seeks job as groom or coachman; "can learn Ladies and Gentlemen to ride or break Horses for any Purpose"

New Brunswick

• "The probability of a War with Spain" means preparing some younger provincial militia members for active service, even with regular troops

• Thomas Peters, sergeant in Black Pioneers, petitions for land for Black people, as they are "Suffering [and] incapable of paying the poor tax"

• Brief description of Madawaska settlement by surveyor on field trip

Hudson's Bay Company

• Albany chief factor wants Henley House officers to adopt "spirit of harmony [to] enable us with one mind to resist[...]our antagonists the Canadians"

• "Captain Pauchagee" is "a very good Indian," but keeping him at Eastmain post "very tiklish" as he is leader at "Canadian Settlement [Manicouagan]"

• "Resident" at York Factory avoids hiring Indigenous men, "for Indians are [so dissatisfied], they think themselves never sufficiently paid"

• Red Lake post men row batteaux with goods to Lac Seul, hauling boats on hundreds of fresh-cut rollers and earning "a little extra groag"

• Indigenous hunter at Severn, stabbed in quarrel and stitched up, has recovered enough 6 weeks later to take family trapping but is soon reported dead

• From "his great propensity to Liquor", Severn first officer Moore is sick with convulsions, sometimes speechless or "troubled in mind"

• Moose Factory worker shoots himself in thigh by stumbling across wire of "set gun" trap and dies week later of "a mortification"

Pacific coast

• "This place[...]is become important from the circumstances which are likely to arise from the trade" - Profile of Nootka Sound and its people

• Spanish forces that captured British traders at Nootka Sound have killed Callicum ("second person in rank at Nootka") and favour U.S. traders

• Spain willing to make restitution for ships taken in Nootka Sound, but insists on exclusive right to fur trade there and "southern whale fishery"

Labrador

• Proposal to print by subscription poem "Labrador, being a descriptive daily instructor how to [operate] in the various businesses on that coast"

• Using words "sin," "evil" and "wild," Moravian Church missionaries at Hopedale report most "of our Esquimaux" reject church's teachings

Elsewhere

• Hundred convicts transported to Newfoundland and secretly dumped there make it to St. John's in bad shape and fighting over poor food supply

• Report of mutiny on HMS Bounty, with Captain Bligh, Fletcher Christian and whole cast of characters