Christopher Billop

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Christopher Billop (ca 1738 – March 29, 1827) was a political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Saint John in the 1st New Brunswick Legislative Assembly. His surname also appears as Billopp.

He was born on Staten Island in New York and served as a colonel in the loyalist forces during the American Revolution. In 1797, he was named to the New Brunswick Council. In 1823, he was asked to become administrator for New Brunswick following the death of Lieutenant-Governor George Stracey Smyth but refused to come to Fredericton to take the oath of office. Ward Chipman took on this post instead although Billop challenged this appointment.

His daughters Jane and Catherine married brothers William Black, who also served as a member of the Council, and John Black, a member of the legislative assembly, respectively. His daughter Mary married Reverend Robert Willis.

His former New York estate, built by his grandfather, was the site of peace negotiations between the Americans and British in September 1776. Now known as the Conference House, it is now a United States national historic landmark. [1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Conference House, Conference House Park, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation