Samuel Street

Who was Samuel Street?

Samuel Street was a judge, merchant and political figure in Upper Canada.

He was born in Wilton, Connecticut in 1753. He traded with the native people along the Susquehanna River around 1776; in 1778, he moved to Fort Niagara where he provided supplies to the British. After the war, he resumed to trade with the native people and the Indian Department; his contact in the department was John Butler. Street was also involved in land speculation, but he did not gain much profit from that activity. In 1788, he became a justice of the peace in the Nassau District. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada in the 2nd riding of Lincoln in 1796; in 1800, he was chosen as speaker. In 1807, he became a judge in the Niagara District. After earlier unsuccessful attempts at reelection, in 1808, he was elected in 3rd Lincoln. He was a captain in the 3rd Lincoln Militia and served as paymaster during the War of 1812. He later claimed compensation for property lost during the war.

He died at Thorold in 1815.