Researching James Bethune

He was born in Glengarry County in Upper Canada in 1840. He studied at Queen's College and University College. He articled in law, was called to the bar in 1862 and opened a practice in Cornwall. In 1865, he was named County Crown Attorney for Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. He was called to the Quebec bar in 1869. He was elected to the 2nd Parliament of Ontario for Stormont in an 1872 by-election and was reelected in 1875. In 1870, he moved to Toronto and formed a law firm with Edward Blake and James Kirkpatrick Kerr. He retired from politics in 1879.

James Gray was from a large family and four of the brothers had notable careers in Canada. Alexander Neil Bethune became the bishop of the diocese of Toronto. John Bethune was the acting principal of McGill University for over ten years. Angus Bethune was prominent in the fur trade and Donald Bethune was an important political figure in Upper Canada.

James had a career in business which began in 1812 after finishing school and moving to Cobourg, Upper Canada. By 1817 he was involved in a number of enterprises, namely; a store, sawmill, distillery and community postmaster.

Bethune's enterprises in the community made him well known and often admired personality. He was a justice of the peace, an officer of the court and lieutenant-colonel of the militia. He became an agent for the Bank of Upper Canada in 1830 and was promoted to cashier of the Cobourg branch. Bethune was also involved in the Cobourg and Peterborough Railway.

His lending policies ran counter to bank policies and ended in bankruptcy in 1834. He subsequently made an unsuccessful foray into politics (losing one of two seats representing Northumberland in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada) and had a brief stay in debtors' prison in 1836. His reputation was ruined and he moved away to New York state where he died after a protracted illness in Rochester, New York. Bethune was buried in Cobourg, Ontario.

Bethune married Martha Covert in 1830 and daughter Elizabeth Martha Bethune in 1831. He was predeceased by Elizabeth in 1831 and survived by Mary ( whom died in Toronto in 1843.). The Bethune are buried at St. Peters Anglican Church in Peterborough.