Thomas Coffin (Lower Canada politician)

Thomas Coffin (July 5, 1762 – July 18, 1841) was a businessman, seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada.

He was born in Boston in 1762, the son of John Coffin, and came to the town of Quebec with his family in 1775. He became a merchant in Montreal. In 1786, he married Marguerite, the daughter of Louis-Joseph Godefroy de Tonnancour, and settled at the seigneury of Pointe-du-Lac. Coffin served as the sheriff for Trois-Rivières district from 1790 to 1791. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for Saint-Maurice in 1792; he was reelected in 1796, 1800 and 1808. He was named a justice of the peace in 1794. In 1795, a large portion of his properties were sold to cover an unpaid debt. In 1798, with John Craigie, he established an ironworks at Batiscan. Coffin was elected to the legislative assembly for Trois-Rivières in 1810. In 1817, he was named to the Legislative Council and served until 1838. Coffin also served as colonel for the local militia and commissioner of police for Trois-Rivières.

He died in Trois-Rivières in 1841.

His brother Nathaniel was a provincial surveyor and also served in the legislative assembly.

edit
  • "Biography". Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours (in French). National Assembly of Quebec.
  • "Thomas Coffin". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.
Political offices
Preceded by
Parliamentary system established in 1792
MLA, District of Saint-Maurice
1792–1804
With: Augustin Rivard-Dufresne, Parti Canadien
Nicholas Montour, Tory
Mathew Bell, Tory
Succeeded by
Preceded by MLA, District of Saint-Maurice
1808–1809
With: Michel Caron, Parti Canadien
Succeeded by
Preceded by MLA, District of Trois-Rivières
1810–1814
With: Mathew Bell, Tory
Succeeded by