George Rolph

Who was George Rolph?

George Rolph was a lawyer and political figure in Upper Canada.

He was born in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, England in 1794 and came to Upper Canada with his family around 1808. He studied law in York. He served as lieutenant in the local militia during the War of 1812. He lived in Vittoria until 1816, then moved to Dundas. He became the first clerk of the peace for the Gore District. Rolph was apparently resented by the Tories of the region and, in June 1826, was tarred and feathered by a group of masked men who claimed that Rolph had been sleeping with his female servant. Several leading Tories were later arrested and sued for trespass and assault. Rolph represented Halton in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada from 1828 to 1830 as a Reformer. He died in Dundas in 1875.

His brother John was also a member of the assembly.