William Lyon MacKenzie was born in Scotland and came to Upper Canada after the War of 1812. He published The Colonial Advocate, a newspaper that was strongly pro government reform. In 1837, frustrated by Britain’s refusal to begin democratic changes, he gathered supporters in an effort to overthrow the government. His dream was an American style democracy. After being defeated at Montgomery’s Tavern and Navy Island, MacKenzie fled to the U.S.A. There he gathered sympathizers and began a series of cross border raids on Upper Canada. MacKenzie returned to Canada in 1849.
The Upper Canada Herald 19 December 1837
Sources:
We Stand On Guard: An Illustrated History of the Canadian Army by John Marteinson
Dictionary of Canadian Military History by David J. Bercuson & J. L. Granatstein
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