Sir John Rose

Rose, Sir John

Sir John Rose, politician, banker, diplomat (b at Turriff, Scot, 2 Aug 1820; d at Langwell Forest, Scot 24 Aug 1888). He immigrated to Canada in 1836 and became a prominent corporation lawyer in Montréal. Elected to the Legislative Assembly of the PROVINCE OF CANADA in 1857, he was appointed solicitor general for Canada E in the Macdonald-Cartier administration. Chief commissioner of public works 1859-61, he resigned and sat as a private member and as a spokesman for the Protestant minority of Canada E 1861-67. Considered John A. MACDONALD's closest friend, he was minister of finance 1867-69 and responsible for the Dominion's first banking legislation. He moved to London as an investment banker in 1869 and served as a quasi-official representative of the Canadian government in England. He undertook the preliminary negotiations with the US that led to the Treaty of WASHINGTON, 1871, and was involved in setting up the original CPR syndicate in 1880. A well-known figure in English society and a financial adviser to the Prince of Wales, he was created baronet in 1872.