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Fathers of Confederation, Part 2

© David Newman

We return to looking at those who formed our country: Fathers of Confederation, Part 2.

Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt (Canada) was born in London, England, September 6, 1817. He came to Canada in 1835 with his father, John Galt, who became commissioner of the Canada Land Company. Alexander Galt also worked for a company, as a clerk in the Eastern Townships, but soon became commissioner himself. He entered Parliament as an independent for Sherbrooke sometime latter. He became Finance Minister in the MacDonald-Cartier administration of Canada in 1958. At the Quebec conference it was he who worked out a plan to make the provincial debts taken over by the federal government. He remained Finance Minister in the Canadian federal government of 1867. In 1880, Galt became the first High Commissioner for Canada. He died in Montreal in 1893.

John Hamilton Gray (Prince Edward Island) was born in Charlottetown, PEI, June 14, 1811. He spent much time in the army in India and South Africa only to return to PEI in 1856. Two years later he was elected to Legislature. He became premier and was host to the conference of Charlottetown, and was pro-confederation. He died near Charlottetown, August 13, 1887.

John Hamilton Gray (New Brunswick) was born in Bermuda in 1814. He was educated in Windsor, Nova Scotia. He then moved to New Brunswick. He represented Saint John from 1850 to 1867. He left his party to join the pro-confederation Liberals. After confederation he was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. He died in Victoria, BC, June 5, 1889.

Thomas Heath Haviland (Prince Edward Island) was born in Charlottetown, November 13, 1822. Entered politics very young. He held many functions during his political life: Colonial Secretary, Speaker of the House and Solicitor General. He didn't go to the Charlottetown conference but attended the larger Québec one. He was a pro-confederate. He eventually played a big part in 1873 in bringing in PEI. He died in Charlottetown, September 11, 1895 after serving in the Senate and as Lieutenant-Governor of PEI.

William Alexander Henry (Nova Scotia) was born in Halifax, December 30, 1816. He entered politics in 1840, eventually getting into the Cabinet. In 1857, he changed political alliance and joined the Tories. He was pro-conservative but failing to be elected to Parliament in 1867 he was appointed to a Supreme Court position. He died in Ottawa, May 3, 1888.

Sir William Pearce Howland (Canada) was born in Paulings, New York, May 29, 1811. In 1830, he moved to Upper Canada and set up a business. In 1841 he became a royal subject and Canadian citizen. He was elected to the Canadian Legislature in 1857. His only conference was the final one in London. From 1868 to 1873 he became Ontario's Lieutenant-Governor. He returned to his Toronto business afterwards. He died January 1, 1907

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