DUMONCHEL, John Baptist, Canadian merchant, born in Sandwich, Ontario, in 1784; died in Saint-Benoit, Canada. in 1844. He came in his youth to Lower Canada, and studied in the College of Montreal. After serving some time as a clerk, he opened a commercial establishment in Saint-Benoit in 1810. Although he filled several public offices, he took the part of the people in their conflict with the British authorities, and, in consequence of having presided over some public meetings, was dismissed from the magistracy and deprived of his commission as major of militia. He took part in the insurrection of 1837, and fled after the defeat of the Canadians at Saint-Eustache, but was betrayed and given up to the soldiers of General Colborne. He was brought to Montreal and imprisoned, being shortly after joined by his two sons, who had also been taken prisoners. He was treated with great severity, and when Lord Durham offered to liberate him and his companions if he consented to sign a document acknowledging that they had been guilty of high treason, he consented to do so. He was set at liberty, however, without the exaction of this penalty.