Tory

a member of the British political party opposed to the Whig. The origin of this party name is interesting. The term is Irish, meaning a pursuer, searcher, plunderer. During the reign of Charles II, tory was a common name for Irish robbers and outlaws who dwelt in the bogs. Later it was applied to the outlawed element of Ireland that upheld the cause of the Catholic Duke of York whom the Protestants of England desired to exclude from the throne. Later, when the duke came to the throne, the name was transferred to the court party and became attached to the great political organization that acted in opposition to the Whigs.

While no hard and fast line can be drawn, it may be said that the members of the Church of England were chiefly Tories, while the dissenters or independent elements generally were Whigs. Historically, the Tories are considered the party of the church and state. On the whole the Tory party has upheld the prerogatives of the crown and has stood by the privileges of the established church. The Conservative party is the successor of the Tory party.

In America persons that stood for British authority were dubbed "Tories." In the days of the American Revolution there were more Tories in New York than in any other colony. When the conflict was decided in favor of the American cause a large body of the Tories, including most of the wealth and intelligence of New York, found themselves in so uncomfortable a position that they emigrated to Nova Scotia and Upper Canada, and many returned to England. Tory families that were wealthy in New York thus found themselves beginners in the world again.