From a prime minister to an Olympian: Five famous people with connections to Belleville

You probably know the names Dow Chemical, Brian Orser and Mackenzie Bowell. But did you know they all have connections to Belleville?

The city’s history includes an eclectic cast of inventors, authors, politicians and athletes whose accomplishments reached well beyond the Bay of Quinte.

Here are five notable names and their Belleville connections.

Henry Dow

Herbert Henry Dow. – Photo via Wikicommons

The founder of the world conglomerate Dow Chemical Company was born in Belleville on Feb. 26, 1866. The family moved to Clevland, Ohio shortly thereafter. Dow is famous for his discovery of how to extract bromide from subterranean brine. Bromide is used for water purification, agriculture, healthcare and as a flame retardant.

Dow is credited with improving the quality of life for millions and his pioneering work earned him a spot in the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio, joining such luminaries as Thomas Edison (creator of the electric lamp) and Alexander Graham Bell (the telephone).

Susanna (Strickland) Moodie

Susanna Moodie – Photo via Wikicommons

Born Dec. 6, 1803, in England, the prolific writer married British Army Officer John Wedderburn Dunbar Moodie in 1831; the immigrated to Upper Canada in 1832 and landed in Port Hope. In 1840, they moved to Belleville, when Dunbar was appointed sheriff of Hastings County.

Susanna Moodie wrote a memoir about living in the Canadian wilderness titled ‘Roughing it in the Bush’ (1852), and in 1853, ‘Life in the Clearings.’ Both were successful and she went on to publish novels, children’s books, articles and poetry. Moodie is considered a leading author of the pre-Confederation period.

Dunbar died in 1969 and Susanna in 1885. Both are buried in Belleville Cemetery and there is a large memorial marking the grave site.

Susanna Moodie Elementary School in Belleville is named for her, and there is a historical plaque at 114 Bridge Street West.

Catharine Parr Traill

Catherine Parr Traill – Photo via Wikicommons

Although she has a more tenuous connection to Belleville, Catharine Parr Traill, Susanna Moodie’s sister, was also an author.

Not to be outdone by her younger sister (only by a year), Parr Traill (Strickland) also penned richly detailed descriptions of the beauty of Canada.

Her books include ‘The Backwoods of Canada’ (1836), ‘The Female Emigrant’s Guide’ (1860) and ‘Canadian Wild Flowers’ (1869). She came to Canada with her husband and sister Susanna. Parr Traill penned 24 books between 1818 and 1895. She settled in an area near Peterborough, and then in later life in Lakefield to be near her children. She is buried there.

Mackenzie Bowell

Sir Mackenzie Bowell – Photo via Wikicommons

And was so often is the case in those days, Sir Mackenzie Bowell, the fifth prime minister of Canada, was an import from England, where he was born in 1823. He was 10 years old when his family emigrated to Canada and Belleville.

Starting as an apprentice, Bowell ended up owner and publisher of the Belleville Intelligencer. He was involved in a crisis over funding for Catholic schools in Manitoba, and it eventually led to his resignation as several members of his own cabinet resigned.

Bowell was elected to the House of Commons in 1867, and later served as a senator following his difficult role as prime minister. He served in the Senate until his death in 1917 at age 93.

Sir Mackenzie Bowell Public School is named in his honour. He’s also the subject of two historical plaques, one at the corner of Bridge and Pinnacle Streets and at 194 Williams Street.

Brian Orser

Brian Orser – Photo via Olympic.ca

1987 skating world champion and two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser was born in Belleville on Dec. 18, 1961. Although his family moved to Midland when Brian was young, Belleville can claim his birth and be proud that he is a native of the city.

Orser won eight national figure skating titles and is one of the most accomplished skaters in Canada’s history.

Notably, he was also the first junior to land the triple axel in competition, which led to the nickname “Mr. Triple Axel.”

Now a respected coach, Orser is head instructor at the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club, where he trains elite and junior national figure skaters.

Orser is in Canada’s, Ontario’s and Midland’s Halls of Fame, but not in the Belleville organization.