Ezekiel Hart was an entrepreneur and politician in British North America.
21 Facts About Ezekiel Hart
1.
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Ezekiel Hart is often said to be the first Jew to be elected to public office in the British Empire.
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Ezekiel Hart was elected twice by the voters of Trois-Rivieres to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada.
4.
Ezekiel Hart's father was a member of the British forces, and a well-known and successful businessman in Lower Canada.
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Ezekiel Hart obtained part of his education in the United States and, along with his brother Benjamin, served as a colonel in the militia during the American War of Independence.
6.
Ezekiel Hart began participating in his father's fur trade activities in 1792.
7.
Ezekiel Hart remained a partner for only a few years.
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Ezekiel Hart then went into the import and export trade, owned a general store, and acquired property.
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Ezekiel Hart inherited the seigneury of Becancour and bought land at Trois-Rivieres and Cap-de-la-Madeleine.
10.
On 11 April 1807, Ezekiel Hart was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada over three other candidates, obtaining 59 out of the 116 votes cast.
11.
The election having taken place on Shabbat, Ezekiel Hart refused to take his oath of allegiance at that time.
12.
Ezekiel Hart caused controversy when, being Jewish he swore his oath on a Tanakh, instead of on the Christian Bible, and with his head covered in preparation for taking up his seat on 29 January 1808.
13.
Ezekiel Hart petitioned the legislature, saying that, while he believed that he was justified in the law in taking a seat by means of the oath used by Jews in the courts, he was willing to swear the oaths used for those elected to the assembly.
14.
Ezekiel Hart stated that, with only one exception, his opponents were Catholics, and he assumed they were encouraged in voting against him by their priests.
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Ezekiel Hart continued to live in Trois-Rivieres where he was a successful businessman and well-respected member of the community.
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Ezekiel Hart served in the militia during the War of 1812, serving as a lieutenant under Lieutenant Colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry in the 8th Battalion of Trois-Rivieres militia.
17.
Ezekiel Hart's wife died on 21 April 1821, at Trois-Rivieres.
18.
Ezekiel Hart's brother Benjamin was an important businessman at Montreal.
19.
Ezekiel Hart died on 16 September 1843 at Trois-Rivieres, at the age of 76.
20.
Ezekiel Hart was buried in the second Jewish cemetery in Trois-Rivieres.
21.
Ezekiel Hart was survived by his ten children: Samuel Becancour, Harriet, Aaron Ezekiel, Esther Elizabeth, Miriam, Carolina Athalia, Henry, Julia, Abraham Kitzinger, and Adolphus Mordecai.