The Honourable Sir Adams George Archibald KCMG PC QC |
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4th Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia post Confederation | |
In office July 4, 1873 – July 4, 1883 |
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Monarch | Victoria |
Governor General |
The Earl of Dufferin Marquess of Lorne |
Premier |
William Annand Philip Carteret Hill Simon Hugh Holmes John Thompson William Thomas Pipes |
Preceded by | Joseph Howe |
Succeeded by | Matthew Henry Richey |
1st Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba | |
In office May 20, 1870 – December 2, 1872 |
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Monarch | Victoria |
Governor General | The Lord Lisgar |
Premier |
Alfred Boyd Marc-Amable Girard Henry Joseph Clarke |
Preceded by | none |
Succeeded by | Alexander Morris |
1st Lieutenant Governor of Northwest Territories | |
In office May 20, 1870 – December 2, 1872 |
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Monarch | Victoria |
Governor General | The Lord Lisgar |
Preceded by | none |
Succeeded by | Alexander Morris |
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Colchester |
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In office September 9, 1869 – May 19, 1870 |
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Preceded by | Archibald McLelan |
Succeeded by | Frederick M. Pearson |
In office August 15, 1888 – March 5, 1891 |
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Preceded by | Archibald McLelan |
Succeeded by | William Albert Patterson |
Personal details | |
Born |
Truro, Nova Scotia |
May 3, 1814
Died | December 14, 1892 Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada |
(aged 78)
Nationality | Canadian |
Political party |
Reformers Liberal-Conservative |
Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Archibald Burnyeat (m. 1843) |
Children | 1 son, who died at age 14, and 3 daughters |
Religion | Church of Scotland |
Signature |
Sir Adams George Archibald KCMG PC QC (May 3, 1814 – December 14, 1892) was a Canadian lawyer and politician, and a Father of Confederation. He was based in Nova Scotia for most of his career, though he also served as first Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba from 1870 to 1872.
Archibald was born in Truro to a prominent family in Nova Scotian politics. He was the son of Samuel Archibald, and grandson of James Archibald, judge of the court of common pleas, Nova Scotia. He was also related to Samuel G. W. Archibald, who had served as the province's Attorney General from 1830 to 1841. Sir Adams Archibald studied science and medicine for a few years, subsequently articled in law, and was called to the Nova Scotia bar in January 1839. He held a number of local offices over the next decade, and was appointed a probate judge in 1848.
Archibald was elected to the Nova Scotia legislature in 1851 as a supporter of Joseph Howe's governing Reformers, topping the poll in the two-member riding of Colchester County. Once in the legislature, Archibald frequently took positions that were opposed by other members of the Liberal caucus. He supported elected municipal governments, for instance, and was a vociferous proponent of taxation for a state-run school system (regarded by many Nova Scotia Liberals as an unnecessary expense). Archibald also supported reciprocity with the United States, and opposed any efforts to expand the province's electoral franchise.
Archibald was re-elected in 1855, and was appointed Solicitor General of Nova Scotia on August 14, 1856. His term in office was cut short by a sectarian quarrel in the legislature, which occurred after the President of the Charitable Irish Society was dismissed from his government job and charged with treason. The Liberal government had previously been supported by a majority of the province's Catholic population, but in early 1857 eight Catholic Liberals and two Protestant Liberals from Catholic ridings defected to the Conservative opposition, which was then able to form government. Archibald was forced to resign his position on February 21, 1857.