Background
Benjamin Hart was born in Montreal to Aaron Hart, a prominent merchant of Trois-Rivières, and Dorothea Judah.
Benjamin Hart was born in Montreal to Aaron Hart, a prominent merchant of Trois-Rivières, and Dorothea Judah.
Benjamin was educated in New York and Philadelphia and by 1798 had returned to Trois-Rivières to assist with the family’s extensive business.
When Aaron died in 1800, Benjamin inherited the family"s main store in Trois-Rivières and their Montreal house. They had numerous children. He helped push for a law, passed in 1831, that granted equality of civil liberties to Jews.
With improved civil liberties, he was able to become a justice of the peace in 1837.
He served in the War of 1812 as a private under Captain John Ogilvy. He continued a career in the militia for many years after, commanding the 3rd Militia Battalion in Montreal by 1846 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
However, he declared bankruptcy in 1848. He opposed the Rebellion Losses Bill of 1849, and signed the Annexation Manifesto, advocating economic and political union with the United States.
He then moved to New York and spent his final years there.
He was an active member of Montreal"s Jewish congregation.