Collection MSG 400 - Samuel Gale Collection

Samuel Gale was born in 1783 in St Augustine, Florida, and died in 1865 in Montreal. He moved to Canada with his parents Samuel Gale and Miss Wells, who were loyalists who left the United States after the American Revolution. Gale studied law in Montreal and was called to the bar on March 8, 1807. In 1814, the letters he wrote to his opponent Governor Sir George Prevost were published in the Montreal Herald and revealed that he made veiled attacks on Prevost regarding his actions during the War of 1812. In 1828, Gale went to London and gave testimonies before the committee of the House of Commons inquiring into the government of Canada. He represented the inhabitants of the Eastern Townships, who claimed their interests were harmed because French Canadians were in a majority in the House of Assembly. On their behalf, Gale called for improved highways and asked that the courts apply English law in the region. He also requested for the Eastern Townships to be better represented in the assembly and for the encouragement of English immigration. Gale declared himself in favour of the union of Upper and Lower Canada. On August 23, 1834, he was appointed judge of the Court of King’s Bench in Montreal by Lord Aylmer. Gale was appointed justice of the peace in Montreal in 1823.