View source for Charles Connell

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
[[File:Charles Connel.jpg|thumb|The 5 cent stamp depicting Charles Connell.]]
'''Charles Connell''' (1810 &ndash; June 28, 1873) was a Canadian politician, now remembered mainly for placing his image on a 5-cent postage stamp. Born in Northampton in the then-British colony of [[New Brunswick]] to a family of [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalists]] who had fled the [[American Revolution]], he entered politics in 1846, serving in the colony's Legislative Assembly and House of Assembly.

== Career ==
In 1858, Connell was appointed [[Postmaster General]] of the colony, at a time when increasing trade with the United States was forcing the British colonies to reconsider their currencies and institute a decimal system that would be more familiar to their American neighbors. New Brunswick adopted a decimal currency in 1859, and in the following year, Connell issued the first series of [[postage stamp]]s in the new denomination. While few people had problems with the new currency, they were outraged that Connell chose to depict himself on the 5-cent stamp. In an effort to stem the criticism and charges of extreme arrogance, he offered to buy up all the stamps and burned them publicly on the front lawn of his house. He also resigned his office as postmaster general.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B05E0D81239E133A2575AC2A9679C946395D6CF|title=STAMP COST AN OFFICE.; New Brunswick Connell Stamp Aroused Official Anger.|date=January 29, 1922|work=The New York Times|page=122|accessdate=2009-11-03}}</ref> It is unknown how many stamps survived, but they number no more than a few dozen and are now extremely rare.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/scandalous-stamp-proofs-sold-at-auction-1.594168 Scandalous stamp proofs sold at auction], ''[[CBC News]]'', May 10, 2006</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Dearborn|first=Dorothy|authorlink=Dorothy Dearborn|title=Legends, Oddities and Mysteries (--Including UFO Experiences) in New Brunswick |publisher=Neptune Publishing Company, Limited|date=February 1, 1996|page=55|chapter=Philatelists take note|isbn=1-896270-06-9|quote=The catalogue price for one Connell stamp, in mint condition in 1995 was $7,500.}}<!--|accessdate=2009-11-03--></ref> Some counterfeits of the stamp exist also.<ref>{{cite book|last=Argenti|first=Nicholas|authorlink=Nicholas Argenti|title=The Postage stamps of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia|publisher=Quarterman|year=1976|edition=Quarterman|pages=150–151|chapter=New Brunswick: Five Cents Connell|isbn=0-88000-088-0}}<!--|accessdate=2009-11-03--></ref>

Despite the episode, Connell continued to serve in the colonial legislature up until 1867. He strongly urged passage of a bill that would have seen the lieutenant governor of N.B. elected, and not appointed by the British monarch.<ref>[https://www.rpsc.org/cp/charles_connell.html Charles Connell and His Stamp - The Stamp's Survival], J.J. MacDonald, The Canadian Philatelist, Sept.-Oct. 2000</ref> A member of the [[Executive Council of New Brunswick]], he served as [[Department of Natural Resources (New Brunswick)|Surveyor General]] from July 10, 1866, to July 17, 1867.

An ardent supporter of Canadian Confederation, Connell was elected as a [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|Member of Parliament]] representing the New Brunswick [[electoral district (Canada)|electoral district]] of [[Carleton (New Brunswick federal electoral district)|Carleton]] in the first two Canadian parliaments.

From 1865 to 1866, he published his own newspaper, ''The Union''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.gnb.ca/APPS/NewspaperDirectory/Directory.aspx?culture=en-CA&Key=690&Tab=5 |title=Provincial Archives of New Brunswick |website=archives.gnb.ca |accessdate=23 May 2017}}</ref>

== Family life ==
On August 5, 1835, he married Anne Fisher, daughter of [[Peter Fisher (historian)|Peter Fisher]], and sister of Lewis P. Fisher. They had seven children, one of whom died young. She died on October 5, 1895, and is buried in the Old Methodist Cemetery in [[Woodstock, New Brunswick]]. His son [[George Heber Connell|George Heber]] went on to serve in the House of Commons.

== Death and legacy ==
He died at his house on June 28, 1873.<ref>{{cite news|date=19 July 1873|publisher=Carleton Sentinel|accessdate=2009-10-01|volume=34|issue=1459|quote=Died at his residence 28 June, Hon. Charles Connell, MP., age 64.|url=http://archives.gnb.ca/APPS/NewspaperVitalStats/Details.aspx?culture=en-CA&guid=645b9749-5b2d-4399-85cd-62dcf9f486f1&r=1&ni=1055|title=Daniel F Johnson's New Brunswick Newspaper Vital Statistics}}</ref>

His 1840 house, known as the [[Charles Connell House]] is a [[National Historic Sites of Canada|National Historic Site]], located in [[Woodstock, New Brunswick]], and is now a museum run by the [[Carleton County Historical Society]].

==See also==
* [[Postage stamps and postal history of New Brunswick]]

== Electoral record ==
{{1867 Canadian federal election/Carleton, New Brunswick}}
{{1872 Canadian federal election/Carleton, New Brunswick}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Canadabio|ID=4911}}
* {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=16576}}
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nbcarlet/connell.htm Charles Connell]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nbcarlet/pictures/Connell.jpg Gravestone]
* [http://ourmaritimeties.com/tng/getperson.php?personID=I16324&tree=Arthur Our Maritime Ties] genealogical information

{{DEFAULTSORT:Connell, Charles}}
[[Category:1810 births]]
[[Category:1873 deaths]]
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of New Brunswick]]
[[Category:Liberal Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from New Brunswick]]
[[Category:People from Carleton County, New Brunswick]]
[[Category:Postage stamps of Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian postmasters]]
[[Category:19th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]