Henry Hezekiah Cogswell
Encyclopedia
Henry Hezekiah Cogswell 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 born in Cornwallis Township, the son of Mason Cogswell and Lydia Huntington, and was educated at King's College
. He studied law with Richard John Uniacke
and was called to the bar in 1798, setting up practice in Halifax
. In 1805, Cogswell married Isabella Ellis. He was named deputy provincial secretary in 1812 and, in 1818, registrar for the Court of Chancery. With Martin Gay Black
and others, he helped establish the Halifax Banking Company
in 1825, serving as first president for the bank. In 1831, Cogswell was named to the province's Council. He also served as commissioner of the vice admiralty court
and president of the Halifax Board of Health. Cogswell was president of the Albion Fire and Life Insurance Company and of the Annapolis Iron Mining Company. An obvious target for political reformers, he lost most of his political appointments by 1841. Cogswell helped support the Halifax Mechanics' Institute
, was a generous supporter of King's College and contributed to Halifax charities. In his later years, he lobbied for a railway link between Halifax and Quebec City
. He died at Halifax at the age of 78.
His daughter Isabella Binney Cogswell
went on to become a prominent philanthropist and his son James Colquhoun Cogswell later served as president of the Halifax Banking Company.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. He represented the town of Halifax in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
from 1818 to 1820.
He was born in Cornwallis Township, the son of Mason Cogswell and Lydia Huntington, and was educated at King's College
University of King's College
The University of King's College is a post-secondary institution in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. King's is a small liberal arts university offering mainly undergraduate programs....
. He studied law with Richard John Uniacke
Richard John Uniacke
Richard John Uniacke was a lawyer, politician, member of the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly and Attorney General of Nova Scotia....
and was called to the bar in 1798, setting up practice in Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
. In 1805, Cogswell married Isabella Ellis. He was named deputy provincial secretary in 1812 and, in 1818, registrar for the Court of Chancery. With Martin Gay Black
Martin Gay Black
Martin Gay Black was the son of William Black, who was the founder of the Methodist congregation in Nova Scotia....
and others, he helped establish the Halifax Banking Company
Halifax Banking Company
The Halifax Banking Company was the first bank in Nova Scotia. Established in 1825, it was unable to obtain a charter from the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly and operated as a private company. It became incorporated as a chartered bank in 1872 and enjoyed a period of rapid growth and prosperity...
in 1825, serving as first president for the bank. In 1831, Cogswell was named to the province's Council. He also served as commissioner of the vice admiralty court
Vice admiralty court
Vice admiralty courts were juryless courts located in British colonies that were granted jurisdiction over local legal matters related to maritime activities, such as disputes between merchants and seamen. Judges were given 5% of confiscated cargo, if they found a smuggling defendant guilty...
and president of the Halifax Board of Health. Cogswell was president of the Albion Fire and Life Insurance Company and of the Annapolis Iron Mining Company. An obvious target for political reformers, he lost most of his political appointments by 1841. Cogswell helped support the Halifax Mechanics' Institute
Mechanics' Institutes
Historically, Mechanics' Institutes were educational establishments formed to provide adult education, particularly in technical subjects, to working men...
, was a generous supporter of King's College and contributed to Halifax charities. In his later years, he lobbied for a railway link between Halifax and Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
. He died at Halifax at the age of 78.
His daughter Isabella Binney Cogswell
Isabella Binney Cogswell
Isabella Cogswell was born in Halifax, a daughter to Henry Hezekiah Cogswell and his wife.Cogswell showed a business acumen that stood her in good stead in funding her philanthropic activities during her lifetime. A shrewd businesswoman, her business dealings helped fund a variety of causes within...
went on to become a prominent philanthropist and his son James Colquhoun Cogswell later served as president of the Halifax Banking Company.