Samuel Leonard Shannon, (June 1, 1816 – January 7, 1895) was a Canadian lawyer, judge and political figure in
Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Halifax County in the
Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1859 to 1867.
Biography
He was born in
Halifax, Nova Scotia on June 1, 1816. The son of James Noble Shannon, a city merchant, and Nancy Allison. Shannon was educated at the
University of King's College. He articled in law with
Henry Pryor
Henry Pryor (July 3, 1808 – October 10, 1892) was a lawyer, magistrate and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Halifax County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1859 to 1867.
He was born in Halifax, the son of ...
and was called to the bar in 1839. In 1855, he married Annie Starr Fellows. Shannon served in the local militia, reaching the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In 1858, he was named a Nova Scotia railway board commissioner. Shannon was named
Queen's Counsel in 1864. He served as a
minister without portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister who does not head a particular ministry. The sinecure is particularly common in countries ruled by coalition governments and a cabinet w ...
in the province's Executive Council from 1863 to 1867. He supported the development of an intercolonial railway, free common schools and
Confederation. Shannon served on the board of governors for
Dalhousie College
Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia, Canada, with three campuses in Halifax, a fourth in Bible Hill, and a second medical school campus in Saint John, New Brunswick. Dalhousie offer ...
and helped establish the
Dalhousie Law School, serving as one of its first instructors. In 1881, he was named probate judge for
Halifax County. Shannon died in Halifax on January 7, 1895, at the age of 78.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shannon, Samuel Leonard
1816 births
1895 deaths
Nova Scotia pre-Confederation MLAs
Judges in Nova Scotia
Canadian Methodists
Canadian King's Counsel
University of King's College alumni
Nova Scotia candidates for Member of Parliament
Candidates in the 1867 Canadian federal election