Hart, Ezekiel

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HART, EZEKIEL

HART, EZEKIEL (1767–1843), early Canadian political figure. Hart was born in Trois Rivières, the second son of Aaron *Hart. He succeeded his father as seigneur of Becancour. In 1807 he was elected to the legislature of Lower Canada for Trois Rivières. Because of the sharp rivalry between the French and English camps he was prevented from taking his seat at the following session of the legislature in 1808. Regarding him as a member of the English faction the French-speaking deputies pointed out that as a Jew he could not take the oath "on the true faith of a Christian." He was reelected in May 1808, and in April 1809, he was again prevented from being seated.

bibliography:

Rosenbloom, Biogr Dict, 52; J.J. Price, in: ajhsp, 23 (1915), 43–53; S. Rosenberg, Jewish Community of Canada (1970), index.

[Ben G. Kayfetz]