Elgin, << EHL gihn, >> Earl of (1811-1863), served as governor general of the Province of Canada, a British colony, from 1847 to 1854. He is best known for recognizing the establishment of responsible government in the colony. Under this practice, the colony would be governed by a ministry that had the confidence of the legislature, rather than by agents of the British government.
Elgin was born on July 20, 1811, in London. His given and family name was James Bruce. The eighth Earl of Elgin, he was educated at Eton and at Oxford University. He was elected to the British House of Commons in 1841. From 1842 to 1846, he served as governor of Jamaica.
As governor general of the Province of Canada, Elgin was instructed by the British colonial secretary to accept responsible government. Elgin then called upon French and English Canadian reformers who had won colonial elections in 1848 to form an administration. In 1849, the reformers passed the Rebellion Losses Bill. This bill was designed to compensate both rebels and loyalists who had suffered as the result of a rebellion in 1837 and 1838. Elgin approved the bill. Conservative opponents of the bill then burned the Parliament buildings and stoned Elgin’s carriage. Although in serious danger, Elgin refused to change his position. He died on Nov. 20, 1863.
