DCHP-1 Online

Loyalist Hist.

• 1a n. one of a large number of persons loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution, many of whom came to the eastern provinces of Canada as settlers during the Revolution and for some years afterwards.

  See also: United Empire Loyalist  

  • 1779  Mr. John Greaves was appointed by His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief to attend the Loyalists residing at Mischish as Surgeon.
  • 1805  A great mass of land has been granted by His Majesty's patent, free of expense, to officers, old soldiers, loyalists and others.
  • 1966  Born in Cornwallis [N.S.], the son of a Loyalist, he [Gesner] is remembered as the inventor of the process which gave the world kerosene oil.

• 1b n. occasionally still, a descendant of a United Empire Loyalist.

  • 1883  Though not a Loyalist, he felt that the terms Canadian and Loyalist were identical, and that all true Canadians would throw themselves into the celebration

• 2 n. an American settler who moved into Canada (1790-1800) after the influx of the true refugees, the motive usually being to take advantage of the Crown lands being opened for settlement.

  See also: late Loyalist  

  • 1833  (1917)  I am a Loyalist, but not a U.E. Loyalist; we did not draw land from the King, when we came to the country.

• 3 n. a person remaining loyal to the Crown during the rebellions of 1837-38 in the Canadas.

  See also: Canadas  

  • 1837  The Loyalists then marched through the principal portion of the town and suburbs seeking for the "Sons of Gaineeroy " but in vain--they seemed to have evaporated like ghosts into thin air.

• 4 n. a supporter of the Canadian party.

  See also: Canadian Loyalist  Canadian party (def. 2)  

  • 1871  When we examine the counts of the indictment, we find the first and main one to be that stale grievance--appointment of "rebels" to office, neglecting the "loyalists."
  • 1909  Philip is a Loyalist. During the half-breed rebellion of 1885 he carried dispatches to Middleton and Otter, going seventy-five miles one day on foot.
  • 1963  Rebuffed by the Prime Minister, the "loyalists" turned to the Governor-General. . . .