William Elder (July 22, 1822 – July 23, 1883) was a Presbyterian clergyman, journalist and political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. He represented St. John County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1875 to 1883. He was born in Malin, County Donegal, Ireland and studied theology at

Belfast College The Royal Belfast Academical Institution is an independent grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With the support of Belfast's leading reformers and democrats, it opened its doors in 1814. Until 1849, when it was superseded by what today ...

, the University of Glasgow, the University of Edinburgh and New College, Edinburgh. Elder came to New Brunswick as a missionary in 1853. In 1856, he established the ''Colonial Presbyterian and Protestant Journal''. In 1865, he founded the ''Morning Journal'' at Saint John. In 1869, that newspaper merged with the ''Morning Telegraph'' to form the ''St. John Daily Telegraph and Morning Journal'' (later the ''

Telegraph-Journal The ''Telegraph-Journal'' is a daily newspaper published in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. It serves as both a provincial daily and as a local newspaper for Saint John. The newspaper is published by Brunswick News. The ''Telegraph-Journal'' i ...

''), with John Livingston as owner and Elder as editor. At the same time, his ''Colonial Presbyterian'' merged with the ''Presbyterian Advocate''. In 1871, he became sole owner of both newspapers. "He ranks high amongst the greater newspaper men of Canada". Elder was also a director for the Saint John Grammar School Board and the Saint John Board of Trade. In 1872, Elder ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the

House of Commons of Canada The House of Commons of Canada (french: Chambre des communes du Canada) is the lower house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Crown and the Senate of Canada, they comprise the bicameral legislature of Canada. The House of Common ...

. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in an 1875 by-election held after the death of

Joseph Coram Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...

. In 1883, he was named provincial secretary, president and chairman of the

Board of Agriculture The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) was a United Kingdom government department created by the Board of Agriculture Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c.30) and at that time called the Board of Agriculture, and then from 1903 the Board ...

. He died in office in Saint John several months later.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Elder, William 1822 births 1883 deaths Canadian newspaper publishers (people) Members of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Members of the Executive Council of New Brunswick Politicians from County Donegal 19th-century Canadian newspaper publishers (people) Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Provincial Secretaries of New Brunswick Colony of New Brunswick people Irish emigrants to pre-Confederation New Brunswick