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.
Even the Family Compact were amazed that such things were permitted under their regime.
From The Last Laird of MacNab An Episode in the Settlement of MacNab Township, Upper Canada by Various
But although the friends of the old Family Compact always professed to be extremely loyal and to pay great deference to the wishes of the British government, on this occasion they pursued a different course.
From Wilmot and Tilley by Hannay, James
Thus the Assembly treated the Family Compact as null and void.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 2 "French Literature" to "Frost, William" by Various
It seemed that the Family Compact oligarchy would have everything in their own hands.
From Egerton Ryerson and Education in Upper Canada by Putnam, J. Harold
E Returned in elections, 1847, 50; solicitor-general for Upper Canadian first La Fontaine-Baldwin Cabinet, 53; father of Edward Blake; attacks Family Compact; bitter conflict with Sir Allan MacNab, 69.
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.
