Coffin, William Foster

(1808-1878). Born in Bath, England. Came to Quebec with his father, an army officer, 1813. Returned to England, 1815, and until 1824 was a student at Eton. Came back to Canada, 1830. Called to the bar, 1835. Took part in the suppre ion of the Rebellion of 1837. Joint sheriff of Montreal, 1840-1851. Appointed commi ioner of ordnance lands, 1856, and one of the Intercolonial Railway commi ioners, 1868. Held many important offices under the government of Canada and in the militia. Bib. : Works: History of the War of 1812 ; Three Chapters on a Triple Project; Thoughts on Defence from a Canadian Point of View; Quirks of Diplomacy . For biog., see Morgan, Annual Register , 1878.