Robert Baldwin

Robert Baldwin
Joint Premier of Province of Canada, for Canada West
In office 1842–1843
Preceded by	William Henry Draper
In office March 11, 1848 – June 21, 1851
Succeeded by	Francis Hincks
Attorney General for Canada West
In office September 17, 1842 – December 11, 1843
Preceded by	William Henry Draper
Succeeded by	William Henry Draper
In office March 11, 1848 – June 21, 1851
Preceded by	Henry Sherwood
Succeeded by	William Buell Richards
Member of the Parliament of the Province of Canada for Hastings, Canada West
In office 1841–1842
Preceded by	New position
Succeeded by	Edmund Murney
Member of the Parliament of the Province of Canada for Rimouski, Canada East
In office 1843–1844
Preceded by	Michel Borne
Succeeded by	Louis Bertrand
Personal details
Born	(1804-05-12)May 12, 1804 York, Upper Canada
Died	December 9, 1858(1858-12-09) (aged 54) Toronto, Canada West
Resting place	Spadina House (Baldwin family cemetery)
Political party	Reform movement
Spouse(s)	Augusta Elizabeth Sullivan (May 3, 1827; her death, January 11, 1836)
Relatives	William Warren Baldwin (father) Frederick Walker Baldwin (grandson) Robert Baldwin Ross (grandson)
Profession	Lawyer
Signature

Robert Baldwin (May 12, 1804 – December 9, 1858) was an Upper Canadian lawyer and politician who with his political partner Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine of Lower Canada, led the first responsible government ministry in the Province of Canada. "Responsible Government" marked the province's democratic self-government, without a revolution, although not without violence. This achievement also included the introduction of municipal government, the introduction of a modern legal system, reforms to the jury system in Upper Canada,^[1] and the abolition of imprisonment for debt.^[2] Baldwin is also noted for feuding with the Orange Order and other fraternal societies. The Lafontaine-Baldwin government enacted the Rebellion Losses Bill to compensate Lower Canadians for damages suffered during the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837–1838. The passage of the Bill outraged Anglo-Canadian Tories in Montreal, resulting in the burning of the Parliament Buildings in Montreal in 1849.^[3]