William Allan (banker)

William Allan
Chairman of the Home District Council
In office 1829–1831
Preceded by	Thomas Ridout
Succeeded by	Alexander Macdonell
Constituency	York, Upper Canada
Personal details
Born	c.1770 Huntly, Scotland
Died	July 11, 1853 Toronto, Province of Canada
Political party	Family Compact
Spouse(s)	Leah Tyrer Gamble
Children	George William Allan
Occupation	Banker, Politician

William Allan, JP (c.1770 – July 11, 1853), was a Scottish Canadian banker, businessman and politician.

Allan was born at Moss, near Huntly, Scotland, around 1770. He came to Upper Canada around 1787 under the auspices of family friend John Forsyth, of Forsyth, Richardson & Company and settled at Niagara a year later. In 1795, he moved to York (now Toronto). In 1797, he opened a general store with Alexander Wood, later becoming sole owner.

In 1800, Allan was named a justice of the peace in the Home District and, in 1801, became the postmaster at York. During the War of 1812, he served as major in the York militia and negotiated the terms of surrender when York was first captured by the American forces. His store was looted during this period. Allan also served as supplier to the British forces. He later served on the commission responsible for reviewing claims for losses during the war, including his own.

Allan served as an associated judge at the 1818 trial of several members of the North West Company charged with the murder of Governor Robert Semple after the Battle of Seven Oaks. In 1818, he became the agent for the Bank of Montreal at York and, in 1821, he was part of the group that established the Bank of Upper Canada and he was its first president from 1822 to 1835. Allan also served as a director of the Canada Company, which was formed to develop and sell property within the province. In 1834, he became governor of the British America Fire and Life Assurance Company. From 1829–1831 he was chairman of the Home District Council.

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