John McIntosh (March 4, 1796 – July 3, 1853) was a Scottish-Canadian businessman, ship's captain and political figure in Upper Canada. He was a leading figure of the Upper Canadian reform movement, and was described by his contemporaries as a moderate reformer. He was elected to the province's legislature in 1834, but was unable to be elected to the parliament of the Province of Canada in 1841. He continued supporting reformers, allowing William Lyon Mackenzie to stay in his home upon Mackenzie's return to Canada in 1849. Early life and career McIntosh was born in Colarich, Scotland, on March 4, 1796. His parents were John McIntosh and Ann Ferguson. He emigrated to Quebec in 1800 or 1801 with his family and moved to York, Upper Canada, in 1803. He served in the 3rd Regiment of the York militia during the War of 1812 and participated in the siege of Detroit and battle of Queenston Heights. He was captured by American forces during the Battle of York. After the war, McIntosh piloted ships on the Great Lakes and was the caption of a schooner called The Three Brothers. He married Catharine Stewart in 1824, and they had four children together. In 1828, McIntosh was given property by his father. He rented out these properties and a farm in London, and these profits allowed him to devote more time to politics. Provincial politics In the 1830s, McIntosh was chairman of the Committee of House District Reformers. From 1832–1833 McIntosh was chairman of the Central Committee of One Hundred Freeholders of Upper Canada, a group that organized opposition to the provincial government of Upper Canada. In 1833 McIntosh married his second wife, Helen Ferguson ( Baxter) and they would have at least seven children together. In 1834, McIntosh was elected in the 4th riding of York as a Reformer to the Upper Canadian legislature. He was reelected in 1836. He chaired a meeting in 1837 where Toronto reformers called on Upper Canadians to organize groups to oppose the provincial administration. In the fall of 1837, Mackenzie invited McIntosh to a meeting of reformers where Mackenzie proposed the Upper Canada Rebellion. Mackenzie's proposal was rejected and McIntosh did not participate in the rebellion. In 1841 McIntosh ran for the 1st Parliament of the Province of Canada in the 4th riding of York. Reformers asked McIntosh to not run in the election and Robert Baldwin