George Rolph

George Rolph
Rolph, unknown date
Born	7 April 1794
Died	25 July 1875
Occupation	Lawyer

George Rolph (April 7, 1794 - July 25, 1875) was a lieutenant, lawyer, government official and politician in Upper Canada. Born in England, he immigrated to Canada in 1811, eventually settling in Upper Canada. During the War of 1812 he was a lieutenant of the 1st Regiment Norfolk Militia and participated in the Battle of Fort Detroit, for which he was awarded a gold medal for outstanding service. After the war, Rolph became a lawyer in Dundas, Upper Canada, and was appointed to various government roles.

In 1826, members of the ruling elite tarred and feathered him, motivated by Rolph's lack of nepotism for the group. He successfully sued two members of the group in a civil lawsuit; he appealed this decision, stating that others should also have to pay him for the incident, but was unsuccessful. In 1828 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada, representing Halton County. The Upper Canadian lieutenant governor dismissed Rolph from his role as clerk for Gore county court upon recommendation from the court's magistrates, citing five accusations of misconduct. After an inquiry from the legislative assembly, Rolph was reinstated into the role.

In 1829 Rolph began acquiring the law practice of his brother John Rolph and the following year was unsuccessful in his reelection to the legislative assembly. In 1835, he opposed the incorporation of Dundas as a village, stating that donations from local citizens were enough to fund the area's government services. Upon his death in 1875, he donated a portion of his estate to become a city park. Rolph Street in Hamilton, Ontario, is named for him.