Edwin Arnold Vail
Encyclopedia
Edwin Arnold Vail was a physician and political figure in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada
. He represented Kings County
in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
from 1857 to 1866, from 1870 to 1874 and from 1878 to 1885.
He was born in Sussex Vale, New Brunswick
, the son of John Cougle Vail and Charlotte Hannah Arnold, and studied medicine in Edinburgh
and Glasgow
. He returned home and set up practice in King's County. He also served as surgeon for the local militia. In 1842, he married Frances Charlotte Cougle. Vail was an opponent of Confederation
. He served as Speaker for the New Brunswick assembly
from 1865 to 1866, when he was defeated in a general election. Vail was reelected in 1870 and again served as speaker from 1871 to 1874. He married Harriet Courtland Murphy in 1873 after the death of his first wife. He was defeated again in 1874 but reelected in 1878. Vail served as a minister without portfolio in the Executive Council from 1883 to 1885. He was president of the New Brunswick Medical Society from 1883 to 1884. In April 1885, Vail was named to the province's Legislative Council
. He died a few months later in Sussex
at the age of 67.
His brother William Berrian Vail
served in the Nova Scotia assembly and the Canadian House of Commons.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. He represented Kings County
Kings County, New Brunswick
Kings County is located in southern New Brunswick, Canada.Both the Saint John and Kennebecasis rivers pass through the county.Dairy farming is an important industry in the area...
in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
from 1857 to 1866, from 1870 to 1874 and from 1878 to 1885.
He was born in Sussex Vale, New Brunswick
Sussex, New Brunswick
Sussex is a Canadian town in Kings County, New Brunswick.Sussex straddles the Kennebecasis River, 70 km northeast of Saint John, and is a major dairy products producer in the province...
, the son of John Cougle Vail and Charlotte Hannah Arnold, and studied medicine in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. He returned home and set up practice in King's County. He also served as surgeon for the local militia. In 1842, he married Frances Charlotte Cougle. Vail was an opponent of Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
. He served as Speaker for the New Brunswick assembly
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is the presiding officer of the provincial legislature. Since 1994 the position has been elected by MLAs using a secret ballot. Previously, the Speaker had been appointed by motion of the house, in practice moved by the Premier of New...
from 1865 to 1866, when he was defeated in a general election. Vail was reelected in 1870 and again served as speaker from 1871 to 1874. He married Harriet Courtland Murphy in 1873 after the death of his first wife. He was defeated again in 1874 but reelected in 1878. Vail served as a minister without portfolio in the Executive Council from 1883 to 1885. He was president of the New Brunswick Medical Society from 1883 to 1884. In April 1885, Vail was named to the province's Legislative Council
Legislative Council of New Brunswick
The Legislative Council of New Brunswick was the upper house of the government of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, between 1785 and 1891. Members were appointed by the New Brunswick lieutenant governor.-External links:*...
. He died a few months later in Sussex
Sussex, New Brunswick
Sussex is a Canadian town in Kings County, New Brunswick.Sussex straddles the Kennebecasis River, 70 km northeast of Saint John, and is a major dairy products producer in the province...
at the age of 67.
His brother William Berrian Vail
William Berrian Vail
William Berrian Vail, PC was a Canadian businessman and politician.Vail was born in Sussex Vale, New Brunswick, the son of John Cougle Vail and Charlotte Hannah Arnold. In 1850, he married Charlotte Leslie Jones. He represented Digby County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1867 to 1874...
served in the Nova Scotia assembly and the Canadian House of Commons.