British Dictionary definitions for family compact

Family Compact

noun Canadian

the Family Compact the ruling oligarchy in Upper Canada in the early 19th century
(often not capitals) any influential clique

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012