Date Published:
July 2007

L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Quebec History Encyclopedia

Richard Reid Dobell

Dobell, Richard Reid (1837-1902), merchant and politician, was born in Liverpool, England, in 1837, the son of George Dobell, a merchant of Liverpool. He came to Canada in 1857, and built up in Quebec a very prosperous lumber business. His political leanings were at first Conservative, but in 1896 he stood as the Liberal candidate for Quebec West in the House of Commons. On his election he was included in the Laurier government as a minister without portfolio, and he continued to be a member of the administration until his death on January 11, 1902. He married Elizabeth Francis, eldest daughter of Sir D. I,. Macpherson, of Toronto, and by her he had three sons and two daughters.

Source: W. Stewart WALLACE, The Encyclopedia of Canada, Vol. II, Toronto, University Associates of Canada, 1948, 411p., p. 218.