Sir Allan MacNab Documentary Sources: Correspondence List;

Summary: Born in Newark (Niagara-On-The-Lake) on February 19, 1798, Allan Napier MacNab would become a key figure in the history of Dundurn Castle. After serving in the War of 1812 at only 14 years of age, MacNab held numerous jobs before he was called to the bar as a lawyer in 1826. MacNab became a public figure after he successfully defended a group of Hamilton Tories who were accused of tarring and feathering Reformer George Ralph. With this success, he was able to buy and develop land in Hamilton and the surrounding regions, which he did on a large scale. After being widowed in 1825, MacNab maintained a long list of dependents. In addition to his two children, MacNab housed and supported four unmarried sisters and his ill mother. His marriage to Mary Stuart in 1831 added strain to this list. As a result of MacNab's administrative assistance, the Bank of Upper Canada provided him with a generous line of credit. This enabled MacNab to purchase more property within Hamilton and across Upper Canada. Unfortunately, MacNab began to lose money on his land holdings. In 1832, MacNab purchased Dundurn Castle for five hundred pounds more than anticipated. That same day, MacNab lost between five and ten thousand pounds to a fire on his building projects. By 1834, MacNab's situation had worsened. MacNab was forced out of the presidency of the Desjardins Canal Company and was already three years in debt to Samuel Peters Jarvis. While MacNab claimed that Jarvis had owed him money, Jarvis considered MacNab to be a 'villain'. MacNab, however, continued to dabble in politics, land development, banking and the transportation industry. By 1837, MacNab operated a steamship line between Rochester, Oswego and Hamilton, and owned an important wharf in Burlington Bay. He was the president of the Hamilton and Port Dover Railways and a director of the Great Western Railway. MacNab actually made a profit by selling the Great Western railway his own lands. MacNab also owned a tavern in Hamilton. MacNab took on important military positions with the start of rebellions in Upper Canada in 1837. He helped lead the forces that defeated Mackenzie and his rebels at Montgomery Tavern outside of York, although Mackenzie was to escape. MacNab also led forces in the London District. A second offensive by Mackenzie saw the rebel occupation of Navy Island, an offensive that MacNab was sent to fend off. After destroying an American boat delivering supplies to the rebels, MacNab was replaced. For this incident, MacNab was also indicted in absentia for the murder of the American vessel's crew members in Erie County, New York. After allegations of shady dealings, MacNab was removed from the Great Western Railroad with a retirement gift of five thousand pounds in 1854. He immediately joined the Grand Trunk Rail, a rival of Great Western. MacNab was removed from directorship of the Grand Trunk, however, later that same year. In 1862, Allan Napier MacNab died a penniless debtor in Hamilton. Unfortunatey, his financial problems did not end with his death, as arguments arose among his creditors. Saul Rich, 1997 Site created and designed by Saul Rich. Copyright 1998. Visit our credits.