VanKoughnet, Philip

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: Bruce W. Hodgins, “VanKOUGHNET (Vankoughnet), PHILIP,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 10, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/vankoughnet_philip_10E.html
  • DCB profile notes:
    • Merchant and politician; b. probably 2 April 1790, at New Johnstown (Cornwall) in the district of Luneburg (later part of Upper Canada), son of Michael VanKoughnet, whose father was Alsatian, and Eve Empey, both loyalists; d. 7 May 1873.
    • Michael VanKoughnet was a large landowner and his son was educated at John Strachan’s grammar school. With this background it is not surprising that Philip became an avid defender of the British connection. He served as a subaltern during the War of 1812 and was present at the battle of Crysler’s Farm where the advance of an American force on Cornwall was stopped. A quarter of a century later, in 1838, VanKoughnet, now a lieutenant-colonel, commanded a battalion of militia at the battle of the Windmill against the American invaders who sympathized with the Canadian rebels.
    • VanKoughnet began his political career at an early age. He was elected to the assembly of Upper Canada for the riding of Stormont and Russell in 1816 as a staunch defender of the colonial administration. He held one of the two seats of the county of Stormont from 1820 when they were created until 1828, and again from 1830 to 1834, and his friend Archibald McLean held the second seat during the same period.
    • In 1836, two years after leaving the assembly, VanKoughnet, clearly a secondary member of the Family Compact, was appointed to the Legislative Council.
  • Son of United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=8642
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