The Ascension and Decline of a French Royalist Community in Upper Canada Following the 1789 Revolution
Commentary
A common misconception regarding the French Revolution is its association with liberty. When viewed from a broader perspective, its grand rhetoric foreshadowed the era of genocide and mass warfare that led to significant historical events in the 20th century, including the Bolshevik coup of 1917, Hitler’s rise to power, and Mao Zedong’s takeover of China in 1949, marking a century of terrible persecutions and wars.
The tyrants of 1789–94, through imprisoning and murdering thousands based on their class, religion, dissent, and regional background, forced numerous refugees to flee to nearby countries. Many sought refuge in England, which was anchored by a strong parliamentary aristocracy. Some exiles even attempted to establish a Royalist colony in Canada.
The French exiles, predominantly Royalists, Catholics loyal to their church, and counterrevolutionaries, found support in England, including from conservative figures like Edmund Burke and William Wilberforce. A group of about 50 French priests also found positions in Quebec, contributing to the region’s cultural development.
An expedition led by aristocratic French Royalists aimed to establish a settlement in Upper Canada in 1798 but faced numerous challenges and setbacks, eventually resulting in failure and the return of survivors to England.
Despite initial support from British officials like William Pitt and William Windham, the French Royalist colony in Canada faced significant difficulties and ultimately faltered, highlighting the challenges of establishing a new settlement in a foreign land.
