Sullivan, Robert Baldwin

Sullivan, Robert Baldwin, 1802–53, Canadian politician and judge, b. Ireland. He emigrated to Canada in 1819, became a lawyer, and was elected mayor of Toronto (1835). He became a member of the executive council of Upper Canada in 1836 and in 1839 a member of the legislative council. Sullivan played a prominent role in effecting the union of Upper Canada and Lower Canada. After the Act of Union (1840) he became a member and then president of the legislative council of Canada. Although a Conservative, he sided with the Reform party in its struggle for responsible government and resigned (1843) in opposition to Sir Charles Metcalfe's reactionary policy.