Formally known as "His Majesty's Council of Nova Scotia", the Nova Scotia Council (1720–1838) was the original British administrative, legislative and judicial body in Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Council was also known as the Annapolis Council (prior to 1749) and the Halifax Council (after 1749). After 1749, when the judicial courts were established, the Nova Scotia Council was limited to administrative and legislative powers. There was no legislative assembly in British-ruled Nova Scotia from the time of the conquest in 1710 until during the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754� ...

in 1758. The Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations (or simply the

Board of Trade The Board of Trade is a British government body concerned with commerce and industry, currently within the Department for International Trade. Its full title is The Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed for the consideration of ...

) in London through much of the 1750s pressured the various governors in Nova Scotia to establish the General Assembly of Nova Scotia. The lack of civil government with an elected assembly was a drawback to attracting settlers from the older, established colonies of New England where the population was expanding and seeking new lands. New Englanders wanted guarantees that they would have governmental institutions the same as or similar to what they had become accustomed in New England. In 1758 the Board of Trade, anxious to attract settlers to found new townships, ordered Col. Charles Lawrence to hold an election and convene an assembly. When the 1st General Assembly was established in 1758, the Nova Scotia Council became its Upper House until 1838, when the Council was divided into the Executive Council and the Legislative Council. The Legislative Council was subsequently dissolved in 1928.

Council at Annapolis Royal

Governor
Richard Philipps General Richard Philipps (1661 – 14 October 1750) was said to have been in the employ of William III as a young man and for his service gained the rank of captain in the British army. He served at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 and promoted ...
(1720–22)

WLA lacma Smibert Scotland portrait of Paul Mascarene

* John Lawrence Armstrong *

Paul Mascarene Jean-Paul Mascarene (c. 1684 – 22 January 1760) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator who served as commander of the 40th Regiment of Foot and governor of Nova Scotia from 1740 to 1749. During this period, he led the colony th ...

* Rev. John Harrison *

John Adams John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Befor ...

Cyprian Southack Cyprian Southack (1662 – 27 March 1745) was an English cartographer and colonial naval commander. He commanded the ''Province Galley'', Massachusetts' one-ship navy (1696–1711) and commanded the first navy ship of Nova Scotia, the ship ''Wi ...

* Arthur Savage * Hibbert Newton (father of Henry Newton) * William Skene * William Shirreff * Peter Boudre

Administrator
John Doucett John Doucett (Doucette) (died November 19, 1726) was probably of French descent although he did not speak the language and was likely born in England. He was a career military man and, from 1702 on, received several promotions. He was appointed ...
(1722–1725)

* William Skene * Alexander Cosby * John Adams * William Shirreff

Lt. Governor
Lawrence Armstrong Lawrence Armstrong (1664 – 6 December 1739) was a lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia and acted as a replacement for the governor, Richard Philipps, during his long absences from the colony. Armstrong was born in 1664 in Ireland. According ...
(1725–1739)

* Erasmus James Philipps *

* William Winniett * William Skene * John Adams * William Shirreff * Otho Hamilton He was the father of Captain John Hamilton who was taken into captivity and later involved in the removal of the Acadians at Annapolis.

Lt. Governor Alexander Cosby (1739–1740)

Erasmus James Philipps Erasmus James Philipps (23 April 1705 – 26 September 1760) was the second longest serving member on Nova Scotia Council (1730-1760) and the nephew of Nova Scotia Governor Richard Philipps. He was also a captain in the 40th Regiment of Foot. ...

* John Adams * William Shirreff * William Skene * Otho Hamilton

Lt. Governor
Paul Mascarene Jean-Paul Mascarene (c. 1684 – 22 January 1760) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator who served as commander of the 40th Regiment of Foot and governor of Nova Scotia from 1740 to 1749. During this period, he led the colony th ...
(1740–1749)

* John Gorham * Otho Hamilton * Henry Cope * Erasmus James Philipps * William Skene *

John Handfield John Handfield (circa 1693 - 1787) was a British military officer, member of the Nova Scotia Council, and office holder. Handfield was commissioned in Philipps' Regiment (the 40th Regiment of Foot) as an Ensign in 1720, taking up his duties at Ann ...

* Edward Amhurst * John Salter * John Adams * William Shirreff

Council at Halifax

EdwardCornwallisArtGalleryofNovaScotia1756

Governor
Edward Cornwallis Edward Cornwallis ( – 14 January 1776) was a British career military officer and was a member of the aristocratic Cornwallis family, who reached the rank of Lieutenant General. After Cornwallis fought in Scotland, putting down the Jacobi ...
(1749-1752)

? 1731-1760 *

1749-1760? * Captain Edward How or Howe 1749-1750 * John Gorham 1749-1751 * Benjamin Green 1749-1772 * John Salusbury 1749-1753 returned to London * Hugh Davidson (secretary) 1749-? * William Steele 1749-1759 *

Peregrine Hopson Peregrine Thomas Hopson (5 June 1696 – 27 February 1759) was a British army officer who commanded the 40th Regiment of Foot and saw extensive service during the eighteenth century and rose to the rank of Major General. He also served as Briti ...

1749-1752 named Governor * Robert Ellison 1749-? * James F Mercer 1749-? * Col. John Horseman 1749-? * Charles Lawrence 1749-1754 named Lt. Gov. * John Collier 1752-1768 * Captain George Fotheringham 1752-?

Governor
Peregrine Hopson Peregrine Thomas Hopson (5 June 1696 – 27 February 1759) was a British army officer who commanded the 40th Regiment of Foot and saw extensive service during the eighteenth century and rose to the rank of Major General. He also served as Briti ...
(1752-1753)

Sir Danvers Osborn, 3rd Baronet Sir Danvers Osborn, 3rd Baronet (17 November 1715 – 12 October 1753), served briefly in 1753 as colonial governor of New York Province. During the Jacobite Uprising, he had raised and commanded troops in support of the king. He later served as ...

1752-1753 named Gov. of NY * William Cotterell 1752-1759 *

Robert Monckton Lieutenant-General Robert Monckton (24 June 1726 – 21 May 1782) was an officer of the British Army and colonial administrator in British North America. He had a distinguished military and political career, being second in command to General Ja ...

1753-1755 named Lt. Gov. * John Duport (clerk)

Governor Charles Lawrence (1753-1760)

John Rous John Rous (21 May 1702 – 3 April 1760) was a privateer and then an officer of the Royal Navy. He served during King George's War and the French and Indian War. Rous was also the senior naval officer on the Nova Scotia station during Father ...

1754-1760 *

Jonathan Belcher Jonathan Belcher (8 January 1681/8231 August 1757) was a merchant, politician, and slave trader from colonial Massachusetts who served as both governor of Massachusetts Bay and governor of New Hampshire from 1730 to 1741 and governor of New J ...

1754-1761 named Lt. Gov. *

Montague Wilmot Montague Wilmot (died May 23, 1766) was an 18th-century British colonial Governor of Nova Scotia. Early life Little is known of Wilmot's origins, such as his exact place of birth, although he was born in England. His father was a physician to the ...

1755-1763 named Lt. Gov. * Charles Morris (1711-81) 1755-1781? *Robert Grant 1756-? * Richard Bulkeley 1759-1800 *Thomas Saul 1759-1760 returned to England * Joseph Gerrish 1759-1762, 1763

Lt. Governor
Jonathan Belcher Jonathan Belcher (8 January 1681/8231 August 1757) was a merchant, politician, and slave trader from colonial Massachusetts who served as both governor of Massachusetts Bay and governor of New Hampshire from 1730 to 1741 and governor of New J ...
(1760-1763)

* Alexander Grant 1761-? *Edm. Crawley 1761-? * Henry Newton 1761-1802 *

Michael Francklin Michael Francklin or Franklin (6 December 1733 – 8 November 1782) served as Nova Scotia's Lieutenant Governor from 1766 to 1772. He is buried in the crypt of St. Paul's Church (Halifax). Early life and immigration Born in Poole, Engla ...

1762-1766 named Lt. Gov.

Governor
Montague Wilmot Montague Wilmot (died May 23, 1766) was an 18th-century British colonial Governor of Nova Scotia. Early life Little is known of Wilmot's origins, such as his exact place of birth, although he was born in England. His father was a physician to the ...
(1763-1766)

* William Nesbitt 1763 (declined to serve) *

Sebastian Zouberbuhler Sebastian Zouberbuhler ( – January 31, 1773) was one of the founding fathers of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Biography Believed to have been born in Switzerland, he worked as an agent for Samuel Waldo, who speculated in land, in South Carolina a ...

1763-1773 * Jonathan Binney 1764-1807

Governor William Campbell (1766-1773)

Joseph Gorham Joseph Gorham (sometimes recorded as Goreham, 1725–1790) was an American colonial military officer during King George's War and later a British army commander during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He is best known ...

1766-1770? named Lt. Gov. of Placentia *

Benjamin Gerrish Benjamin Gerrish (October 19, 1717 – May 6, 1772) was a merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia. He was a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1759 to 1768. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of John Gerrish and ...

1768-1772? * Colonel Arthur Goold or Gould 1772-a/o 1777 *

John Butler John Butler may refer to: Arts and entertainment *John "Picayune" Butler (died 1864), American performer * John Butler (artist) (1890–1976), American artist *John Butler (author) (born 1937), British author and YouTuber *John Butler (born 1954), ...

1772-1781? left Nova Scotia

Governor
Francis Legge Francis Legge (c.1719-15 May 1783), was a British military officer and colonial official in Nova Scotia during the 18th century. He served as Governor of Nova Scotia from 1772 to 1776. During the American Revolution, Legge raised the Royal Nov ...
(1773-1776)

*J. Burrow 1774-? * John Creighton 1775-1788 (last attended 1785)

Lieutenant-Governor
Mariot Arbuthnot Admiral (Royal Navy), Admiral Mariot Arbuthnot (1711 – 31 January 1794) was a Kingdom of Great Britain, British admiral, who commanded the Royal Navy's North American station during the American War for Independence. Early life A native of Wey ...
(1776-1778)

* Bryan Finucane 1778-1785

Lieutenant-Governor Richard Hughes (1778-1781)

Lieutenant-Governor Andrew Hammond (1781-1782)

Alexander Brymer Alexander Brymer (1745–27 August 1822) was a Scottish-born merchant who was influential in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He was a member of the North British Society and a mentor to fellow merchant, William Bowie. He was appointed to the Nova S ...

1782-1801 left for England

Governor
John Parr John Stephen Parr (born 18 November 1952) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter, best known for his 1985 single "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)", charting at number one in the US and number six in the UK, and for his 1984 US number- ...
(1782-1786)

Edmund Fanning Edmund Fanning (July 16, 1769 – April 23, 1841) was an American explorer and sea captain, known as the "Pathfinder of the Pacific." Life Born in Stonington in the British Crown Colony of Connecticut to Gilbert and Huldah Fanning, from ne ...

1783-1786 served as Lt. Gov. *

Isaac Deschamps Isaac Deschamps (c. 1722 – 11 August 1801) was a Canadian judge, and politician. Born in Switzerland or England, Deschamps came to Nova Scotia in 1749. He participated in the Bay of Fundy Campaign (1755) at Fort Edward to remove the Acadia ...

1783-1785? named Chief Justice of Supreme Court * Thomas Cochran 1785-1801 *

Charles Morris (1731–1802) Charles Morris (December 31, 1731 – January 26, 1802) was a surveyor, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Kings County from 1761 to 1770 and Sunbury County from 1770 to 1784 in the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia ...

1785-1802

Lieutenant-Governor
John Parr John Stephen Parr (born 18 November 1952) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter, best known for his 1985 single "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)", charting at number one in the US and number six in the UK, and for his 1984 US number- ...
(1786-1791)

*J. Halliburton 1787-? *

Henry Duncan Henry Duncan may refer to: * Henry Duncan (minister) (1774–1846), Scottish minister, geologist and social reformer; founder of the savings bank movement * Henry Duncan (naval officer, born 1735) (1735–1814), Naval captain and Deputy Comptroller ...

1788-1801 * Sampson Salter Blowers 1788-1833

Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Wentworth (1792-1808)

* James Michael Freke Bulkeley clerk 1792-1796 * Thomas Strange 1792-1796 returned to England *

James De Lancey James De Lancey (November 27, 1703 – July 30, 1760) served as chief justice, lieutenant governor, and acting colonial governor of the Province of New York. Early life and education De Lancey was born in New York City on November 27, 170 ...

1794-1801 resigned for illness *Ben. Wentworth 1795-? * James Brenton 1799-1806 * Andrew Belcher 1801-1813 *William Forsyth 1801-1808 returned to Scotland *C. M. Wentworth 1801-? * Lawrence Hartshorne 1801-1804, 1807-1822 * Alexander Croke 1802-1815 left NS * Michael Wallace 1803-1831 *

John Butler Butler John Butler Dight (Butler) (c. 1760 – July 2, 1854) was a merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Cumberland County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1785 to 1793. He was born in England, the son of Colonel Jos ...

1804-c.1815? left for England *Charles Hill 1807-1825

Lieutenant-Governor
George Prévost Sir George Prévost, 1st Baronet (19 May 1767 – 5 January 1816) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator who is most well known as the "Defender of Canada" during the War of 1812. Born in New Jersey, the eldest son of Genevan Augu ...
(1808-1811)

Richard John Uniacke Richard John Uniacke (November 22, 1753 – October 11, 1830) was an abolitionist, lawyer, politician, member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and Attorney General of Nova Scotia. According to historian Brian Cutherburton, Uniacke was " ...

1808-1830 * Charles Morris (1759–1831) 1808-1831 * Charles Inglis 1809-1816 (1st Anglican bishop of NS) *Samuel Hood George (clerk) 1808-1813

Lieutenant-Governor
John Coape Sherbrooke General Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, (29 April 1764 – 14 February 1830) was a British soldier and colonial administrator. After serving in the British army in Nova Scotia, the Netherlands, India, the Mediterranean (including Sicily), and Spa ...
(1811-1816)

James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military pilot. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morality h ...

1811-1830 * Thomas Nickleson Jeffery 1811-1838 transferred to Executive Council * Foster Hutchinson 1813-1815 * John Black 1813-1823 *

Brenton Halliburton Sir Brenton Halliburton (December 27, 1774 – July 16, 1860) was the eighth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. He was the son of John Halliburton. He married the daughter of Bishop Charles Inglis, Margaret Inglis, in 179 ...

1815-1837 Judges removed from Council *Hon. P. Woodhouse 1815-?

Lieutenant-Governor George Ramsay (1816-1820)

Robert Stanser Robert Stanser (16 March 1760 – 23 December 1828) was an English Church of England bishop. He was the second Bishop of Nova Scotia from 1816 to 1824. Born in England, Stanser was educated at St John's College, Cambridge. He was ordained d ...

1816-? retired 1824, but left for England 1817. (2nd Anglican bishop of NS) * James Fraser 1818-1822 *H. Binney 1819-?

Lieutenant-Governor
James Kempt General Sir James Kempt, ( – 20 December 1854) was a British Army officer, who served in the Netherlands, Egypt, Italy, the Peninsula, and British North America during the Napoleonic Wars. He led a British brigade at the Battle of Waterloo and ...
(1820-1828)

Enos Collins Enos Collins (5 September 1774 – 18 November 1871) was a merchant, shipowner, banker and privateer from Nova Scotia, Canada. He is the founder of the Halifax Banking Company, which eventually was merged with the Canadian Bank of Commerce in ...

1822-1838 transferred to Executive Council *

Simon Bradstreet Robie Simon Bradstreet Robie (1770 – January 3, 1858) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Truro Township from 1799 to 1806 and Halifax County from 1806 to 1826 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. Born in ...

1824-1838 transferred to Executive Council *

Charles Ramage Prescott Charles Ramage Prescott (January 6, 1772 – June 11, 1859) was a merchant, noted horticulturalist and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented the town of Cornwallis in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1818 to 1820. He was bor ...

1825-1838 retired * John Inglis 1825-1838 ? (3rd Anglican bishop of NS)

Lieutenant-Governor
Peregrine Maitland General Sir Peregrine Maitland, GCB (6 July 1777 – 30 May 1854) was a British soldier and colonial administrator. He also was a first-class cricketer from 1798 to 1808 and an early advocate for the establishment of what would become the Canad ...
(1828-1834)

Henry Hezekiah Cogswell Henry Hezekiah Cogswell (April 12, 1776 – November 9, 1854) was a lawyer, political figure and philanthropist in Nova Scotia. He represented the town of Halifax in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1818 to 1820. He was president of t ...

1831-1838 transferred to Executive Council

Lieutenant-Governor
Colin Campbell Colin may refer to: * Colin (given name) * Colin (surname) * ''Colin'' (film), a 2008 Cannes film festival zombie movie * Colin (horse) (1905–1932), thoroughbred racehorse * Colin (humpback whale), a humpback whale calf abandoned north of Sydney, ...
(1834-1840)

1838 Council divided into

Executive Executive ( exe., exec., execu.) may refer to: Role or title * Executive, a senior management role in an organization ** Chief executive officer (CEO), one of the highest-ranking corporate officers (executives) or administrators ** Executive dir ...

and

Legislative A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government. Laws enacted by legislatures are usually known as p ...

Councils

References

Primary reference for section Council at Halifax:

External links

T.B. Akins. The First Council. Collections of the Nova Scotia Historical Society, Volume 2, pp. 17-30

Minutes of the Nova Scotia Council

The Founding of Halifax in 1749 By Arthur Wentworth Hamilton Eaton
{{Authority control Political history of Nova Scotia Defunct advisory councils in Canada

Council at Annapolis Royal

Governor Richard Philipps General Richard Philipps (1661 – 14 October 1750) was said to have been in the employ of William III as a young man and for his service gained the rank of captain in the British army. He served at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 and promoted ... (1720–22)

Administrator John Doucett John Doucett (Doucette) (died November 19, 1726) was probably of French descent although he did not speak the language and was likely born in England. He was a career military man and, from 1702 on, received several promotions. He was appointed ... (1722–1725)

Lt. Governor Lawrence Armstrong Lawrence Armstrong (1664 – 6 December 1739) was a lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia and acted as a replacement for the governor, Richard Philipps, during his long absences from the colony. Armstrong was born in 1664 in Ireland. According ... (1725–1739)

Lt. Governor Alexander Cosby (1739–1740)

Lt. Governor Paul Mascarene Jean-Paul Mascarene (c. 1684 – 22 January 1760) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator who served as commander of the 40th Regiment of Foot and governor of Nova Scotia from 1740 to 1749. During this period, he led the colony th ... (1740–1749)

Council at Halifax

Governor Edward Cornwallis Edward Cornwallis ( – 14 January 1776) was a British career military officer and was a member of the aristocratic Cornwallis family, who reached the rank of Lieutenant General. After Cornwallis fought in Scotland, putting down the Jacobi ... (1749-1752)

Governor Peregrine Hopson Peregrine Thomas Hopson (5 June 1696 – 27 February 1759) was a British army officer who commanded the 40th Regiment of Foot and saw extensive service during the eighteenth century and rose to the rank of Major General. He also served as Briti ... (1752-1753)

Governor Charles Lawrence (1753-1760)

Lt. Governor Jonathan Belcher Jonathan Belcher (8 January 1681/8231 August 1757) was a merchant, politician, and slave trader from colonial Massachusetts who served as both governor of Massachusetts Bay and governor of New Hampshire from 1730 to 1741 and governor of New J ... (1760-1763)

Governor Montague Wilmot Montague Wilmot (died May 23, 1766) was an 18th-century British colonial Governor of Nova Scotia. Early life Little is known of Wilmot's origins, such as his exact place of birth, although he was born in England. His father was a physician to the ... (1763-1766)