Amos Wright - Later Life

Later Life

In 1875 Wright was appointed Federal Indian Agent and Ontario's Crown Agent for the Thunder Bay area; (Wright resided in the then-named Port Arthur). While his Provincial appointment lasted until 1886, he was involved in alleged conflict of interest controversy in his Federal capacity of Indian Agent. In this controversy, religious issues are also said to have played a part; in any case, Wright, a Methodist from an essentially Protestant background, was replaced as Federal Indian Agent in 1883.

Amos Wright was active in public life well into his seventies. Known as a well-liked figure with very wide connections, in his policial life was seen as a representative who, particularly in his earlier career, took a nuanced position on some of the key issues of the day: arguably, such a stance at times both smoothed and hindered his political advancement, but his popularity was undoubted. The 'Toronto Daily Patriot and Express' even disobligingly stated he was “as bewildered with unexpected honors as an interesting widow giving herself away in matrimony for the fourth time”. While undoubtedly unfair, this comment serves to hint at the transition which his life encompassed from his early days in farming and involvement in local parish affairs, to the sometimes tumultuous political events of the Federal Parliament, as the new Dominion expanded westward.

He died at Port Arthur on March 31, 1886, and was buried in Richmond Hill.