James Cotter (1772 – January 18, 1849) was a farmer, judge and political figure in

Upper Canada The Province of Upper Canada (french: link=no, province du Haut-Canada) was a part of British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of t ...

. He was born in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

state in 1772, the son of a

United Empire Loyalist United Empire Loyalists (or simply Loyalists) is an honorific title which was first given by the 1st Lord Dorchester, the Governor of Quebec, and Governor General of The Canadas, to American Loyalists who resettled in British North America du ...

. He settled in

Adolphustown Township Adolphustown is a geographic area located in Greater Napanee, Ontario, Canada, on the Adolphus Reach of the Bay of Quinte in Lake Ontario. Adolphustown is now part of the town of Greater Napanee. The rural character of the Adolphustown region rem ...

in 1794 and, around 1817, moved to Sophiasburgh Township. He served as captain in the local militia during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It ...

, becoming lieutenant colonel in 1830. He was elected as representative for Prince Edward in the

Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was the elected part of the legislature for the province of Upper Canada, functioning as the lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada. Its legislative power was subject to veto by the appointed Lie ...

in 1816. In 1837, he was named a judge in the Prince Edward District. He died in Sophiasburgh Township in 1849.

References

*''Becoming Prominent: Leadership in Upper Canada, 1791-1841'', J.K. Johnson (1989) 1772 births 1849 deaths Members of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada Upper Canada judges {{UpperCanada-politician-stub