January 1 1812: John George Lambton

John George Lambton (12 April 1792 – 28 July 1840), also known as Lord Durham, was a British Whig politician. He served as Governor General and High Commissioner of British North America. Lord Durham was sent to The Canadas in 1837 to deal with the aftereffects of the Rebellions in Upper Canada and Lower Canada. He prepared the consequential Report on the Affairs of British North America (1839) that recommended a form of responsible government and a legislative union of Upper Canada, Lower Canada and the Maritime Provinces. 

The story of his elopement at the age of nineteen on January 1, 1812 can be found here in an article by Fernand Ouellet in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.