James Hervey Price

Who was James Hervey Price?

James Hervey Price was an attorney and political figure in Canada West.

He was born in Cumberland, England in 1797, studied law at Doctors' Commons in London and came to Upper Canada in 1828 with his wife Elizabeth Anne Rubergall. He settled in York Township. He studied law with George Rolph and William Henry Draper and was admitted to practice as an attorney in 1833. He was appointed city clerk for Toronto in 1834. Price helped found the Bank of the People in 1835 and served as its solicitor. In 1836, he was elected to city council. He was arrested in 1837 because he was suspected of having been involved with William Lyon Mackenzie but freed two weeks later.

In 1841, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for the 1st riding of York as a Reformer. He criticized Governor Metcalfe for ignoring the executive council's advice in making patronage appointments. Price was commissioner of crown lands from 1848 to 1851. He supported the Rebellion Losses Bill and the secularization of the clergy reserves.

Price left Toronto in 1860 and settled near Bath in England. He died at Shirley near Southampton in 1882.