Family Compact
Britishnoun
-
the ruling oligarchy in Upper Canada in the early 19th century
-
(often not capitals) any influential clique
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Walpole was thinking, no doubt, of the Family Compact, and of "the King over the Water."
From A History of the Four Georges, Volume II by McCarthy, Justin
Too many of our historians write as if all the members of the Family Compact had been selfish and corrupt, and all our present statesmen were altruistic and pure.
From The Tribune of Nova Scotia A Chronicle of Joseph Howe by Grant, W. L. (William Lawson)
The Government until then was composed of members of the Family Compact, and they determined to keep settlers in the dark, and to allow the Laird of McNab to do as he pleased.
From The Last Laird of MacNab An Episode in the Settlement of MacNab Township, Upper Canada by Various
Early in the year 1790 a dispute with England concerning the frontier in North America induced the Spanish government to claim the help of France under the Family Compact.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 2 "French Literature" to "Frost, William" by Various
Index: Mc His opinion of Mackenzie, 3; on the Family Compact, 10; on revolution, 18; on Mackenzie, 27; view of parliamentary government under Constitutional Act, 54, 55.
From The Makers of Canada: Index and Dictionary of Canadian History by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
