James Irvine (1766-1829)

He was born in England and came to Quebec with his father who was killed there in an accident. He became a merchant in the firm of Irvine, McNaught & Co.; Chairman of the Quebec Committee of Trade; President of the Agricultural Society of Quebec; and, Vice-President of the Quebec Fire Society. For many years he was a member of both the Executive and Legislative Councils of Lower Canada and was commissioned President of the Court of Appeal of the Executive Council. He fought during the War of 1812, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. In 1817, he paid his old friend Sir John Caldwell £4,000 for Belmont House, a 450-acre estate off the old Ste-Foye Road, while Sir John installed himself at the elegant Caldwell Manor. After Irvine died, his son sold Belmont back to the Caldwell family. In 1801, James married Anne, daughter of John George Pyke M.P., Chief Police Magistrate of Halifax, Nova Scotia. James and Anne (Pyke) Irvine were the parents of just one son, Lt.-Colonel J.G. Irvine.