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 Each General Assembly of the legislature of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, consists of one or more sessions and comes to an end upon dissolution (or constitutionally by the effluxion of time — approximately five years) and an ensuing gener ...

. 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 * 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 * 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)

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

Lt. Governor Lawrence Armstrong (1725–1739)

* Erasmus James Philipps * Paul Mascarene * 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)

* Paul Mascarene * Erasmus James Philipps * John Adams * William Shirreff * William Skene * Otho Hamilton

Lt. Governor Paul Mascarene (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 An ...

* 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 Jacob ...
(1749-1752)

* Erasmus James Philipps? 1731-1760 * Paul Mascarene 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 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 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 Joseph Gerrish (September 29, 1709 – June 3, 1774) was a soldier, merchant, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He was a member of the 1st General Assembly of Nova Scotia. He is buried in the Old Burying Ground (Halifax, Nova Scot ...

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 (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 ...

1763-1773 *

Jonathan Binney Jonathan Binney (January 7, 1723/24 – October 8, 1807) was a merchant, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He was a member of the 1st to 3rd Nova Scotia House of Assemblies from 1758 to 1765. He arrived in Nova Scotia in 1753. ...

1764-1807

Governor William Campbell (1766-1773)

* Joseph Gorham 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 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 Nova ...
(1773-1776)

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

Lieutenant-Governor Mariot Arbuthnot (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 The North British Society (also known as "The Scots" and "Scots Club") was f ...

1782-1801 left for England

Governor John Parr (1782-1786)

* Edmund Fanning 1783-1786 served as Lt. Gov. * Isaac Deschamps 1783-1785? named Chief Justice of Supreme Court * Thomas Cochran 1785-1801 * Charles Morris (1731–1802) 1785-1802

Lieutenant-Governor John Parr (1786-1791)

*J. Halliburton 1787-? * Henry Duncan 1788-1801 *

Sampson Salter Blowers Sampson Salter Blowers (March 10, 1742 – October 25, 1842) was a noted North American lawyer, Loyalist and jurist from Nova Scotia who, along with Chief Justice Thomas Andrew Lumisden Strange, waged "judicial war" in his efforts to free B ...

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 1794-1801 resigned for illness *Ben. Wentworth 1795-? *

James Brenton James Brenton (November 2, 1736 – December 3, 1806) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Onslow Township from 1765 to 1770 and Halifax County from 1776 to 1785 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly . He ...

1799-1806 * Andrew Belcher 1801-1813 *William Forsyth 1801-1808 returned to Scotland *C. M. Wentworth 1801-? *

Lawrence Hartshorne Lawrence Hartshorne (July 1, 1755 – March 10, 1822) was a Canadians, Canadian merchant and political figure based in Nova Scotia. He represented Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Halifax County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1793 t ...

1801-1804, 1807-1822 *

Alexander Croke Sir Alexander Croke (July 22, 1758 – December 27, 1842) was a British judge, colonial administrator and author influential in Nova Scotia of the early nineteenth century. Life Croke was born in Aylesbury, England, to a wealthy family and at ...

1802-1815 left NS * Michael Wallace 1803-1831 * John Butler Butler 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 A ...
(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 "t ...

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 ...

1811-1830 * Thomas Nickleson Jeffery 1811-1838 transferred to Executive Council * Foster Hutchinson 1813-1815 * John Black 1813-1823 * Brenton Halliburton 1815-1837 Judges removed from Council *Hon. P. Woodhouse 1815-?

Lieutenant-Governor
George Ramsay George Burrell Ramsay (4 March 1855 – 7 October 1935) was a Scottish footballer and manager. Ramsay was the secretary and manager of Aston Villa Football Club during the club's 'Golden Age'. As a player he was the first Aston Villa captain ...
(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 (1820-1828)

* Enos Collins 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 (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 di ...

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 ...

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