  robert baldwin (may 12, 1804 â december 9, 1858) was a canadian lawyer and politician who, with his political partner louis-hippolyte lafontaine, led the first responsible ministry in canada. "responsible government" marked the country's democratic independence, without a revolution, although not without violence. this achievement also included the introduction of municipal government, the introduction of a modern legal system and the canadian jury system, and the abolishing of imprisonment for debt. baldwin is also noted for resisting a decades-long tradition of orange order terrorism of political reform in the colony, that went so far as to burn the parliament buildings in montreal in 1849.saul, john ralston. reflections of a siamese twin: canada at the end of the twentieth century (penguin books, 1997), 65-66 ==family== thumb|left|mrs augusta elizabeth baldwin robert baldwin's grandfather, also robert baldwin ("robert the emigrant") moved to upper canada from ireland in 1799. his father william warren baldwin (april 25, 1775 â january 8, 1844), though wealthy and a devoted member of the church of england, opposed the religious and political oligarchy known as the family compact, and brought up his son in the same principles. the baldwin family was a prominent one. robert baldwin counted among his cousins such influential upper canadians as the anglican bishop maurice scollard baldwin, toronto mayor robert baldwin sullivan and the irish-catholic leader connell james baldwin. the russell-willcocks-baldwin family formed an elite "compact" much like the infamous "family compact" led by john beverley robinson against whom they fought. robert baldwin, esquire, barrister, of
1804_births 1858_deaths Canadian_Anglicans Canadian_people_of_Anglo-Irish_descent Members_of_the_Legislative_Assembly_of_the_Province_of_Canada Persons_of_National_Historic_Significance_(Canada) Politicians_from_Toronto Premiers_of_the_Province_of_Canada Treasurers_of_the_Law_Society_of_Upper_Canada