James Moir Ferres

Who was James Moir Ferres?

James Moir Ferres was a journalist and political figure in Upper Canada.

He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1813 and studied at Marischal College in Aberdeen. Ferres came to Montreal in 1833 and taught at Edward Black's school there. He then became director of the academy at Frelighsburg in the Eastern Townships. In 1835, he was a co-founder of the Missiskoui Standard, a weekly newspaper. In 1836, he returned to Montreal to work with the Montreal Herald; he became editor in 1839. As a Tory supporter, Ferres received a number of political appointments. He served as secretary of the Montreal Turnpike Trust from 1840 to 1842 and, from 1844 to 1848, he was a revenue inspector at Montreal. In 1848, Ferres became editor and chief owner of the Montreal Gazette; he remained editor until the paper was sold in 1854. He opposed the Rebellion Losses Bill of 1849 and was arrested but never prosecuted following the burning of the parliament buildings at Montreal. In 1854, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in East Missisquoi as a Conservative. He was elected in Brome in 1858.