Henry Nicholas Paint
Encyclopedia
Henry Nicholas Paint was a Canadian politician
, shipowner and merchant
.
, by Mary Le Messurier, both of old Guernsey
families which had been trading with Nova Scotia since at least the mid-18th century; a 'Paint Island', off Canso, is recorded in 1750. In 1817 his father, a merchant shipowner and agent at Arichat, Nova Scotia
, petitioned for land grants at Belle Vue on the Strait of Canso
, where he built a stone house and had settled by 1822. Henry was educated in Guernsey and at the Wolfville
Academy (today Acadia University
), and served as a lieutenant-captain in the Canadian Militia
during the Fenian raids
.
He spent his early life as an insurance agent in the City of Halifax
. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
in 1882 as a Member of the Conservative Party
for Richmond (Nova Scotia electoral district). In Parliament, he was a strong supporter of Sir John A. Macdonald
, the first prime minister
of Canada, and he promoted a large number of public and infrastructure works for Cape Breton
, including the first marine railway, the first steamers from Boston
, numerous wharves and warehouses, as well as post offices and lighthouses, and the bridge and railroad to Arichat, and he was instrumental in negotiating favourable trading terms for the Dominion with Norway
and the West Indies. He contested the three general elections of 1887, 1891 and 1904, but despite his successes for the community, he was defeated on each occasion.
Henry was a progressive merchant and community leader. He owned extensive property on Cape Breton Island. Apart from the family estate of 130 acre (0.5260918 km²) at Canso, in 1863 he acquired commercial property at Point Tupper, Nova Scotia
, a few miles from Port Hawkesbury, on a site 'exceedingly well situated for trade' at the main entry point between mainland Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. Here he constructed wharves and laid out a new township, selling plots doggedly to the end of his life; today he is commemorated there by 'Henry Paint Street'. His other holdings included the 'Paint seam' in coal mines at Victoria County, Nova Scotia
and gypsum options at Brierley Brook in Antigonish
County.
Henry Paint has a street named after him in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
(Paint Street)
Henry Paint's long life is exceptionally well documented for the period, largely from letters written in his old age to his grandchildren, some of which were published in 2005. He died at his house at 3 Artillery Place, Halifax, aged 91.
His younger daughter, Mary Le Mesurier, married Sir Charles Tertius Mander
, first baronet, of the Mander family
, industrialists and philanthropists dominant in the English Midlands. His elder daughter, Flora St Clair, married Sir Charles's first cousin, Theodore Mander, builder of Wightwick Manor
, one of the most notable Arts and Crafts movement
houses in England.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, shipowner and merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
.
Career
Henry Paint was the son of Nicholas Paint, JPJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, by Mary Le Messurier, both of old Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
families which had been trading with Nova Scotia since at least the mid-18th century; a 'Paint Island', off Canso, is recorded in 1750. In 1817 his father, a merchant shipowner and agent at Arichat, Nova Scotia
Arichat, Nova Scotia
The village of Arichat is one of the oldest communities in Nova Scotia, dating back to the 18th century. It is a district of Richmond County on Isle Madame....
, petitioned for land grants at Belle Vue on the Strait of Canso
Strait of Canso
The Strait of Canso , is a strait located in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It divides the Nova Scotia peninsula from Cape Breton Island....
, where he built a stone house and had settled by 1822. Henry was educated in Guernsey and at the Wolfville
Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Wolfville is a small town in the Annapolis Valley, Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada, located about northwest of the provincial capital, Halifax. As of 2006, the population was 3,772....
Academy (today Acadia University
Acadia University
Acadia University is a predominantly undergraduate university located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada with some graduate programs at the master's level and one at the doctoral level...
), and served as a lieutenant-captain in the Canadian Militia
Non-Permanent Active Militia
The Non-Permanent Active Militia was the name of Canada's part-time volunteer military force from the time of Confederation to 1940. The NPAM was composed of several dozen infantry battalions and cavalry regiments...
during the Fenian raids
Fenian raids
Between 1866 and 1871, the Fenian raids of the Fenian Brotherhood who were based in the United States; on British army forts, customs posts and other targets in Canada, were fought to bring pressure on Britain to withdraw from Ireland. They divided many Catholic Irish-Canadians, many of whom were...
.
He spent his early life as an insurance agent in the City of 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...
. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in 1882 as a Member of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
for Richmond (Nova Scotia electoral district). In Parliament, he was a strong supporter of Sir John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
, the first prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Canada, and he promoted a large number of public and infrastructure works for Cape Breton
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
, including the first marine railway, the first steamers from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, numerous wharves and warehouses, as well as post offices and lighthouses, and the bridge and railroad to Arichat, and he was instrumental in negotiating favourable trading terms for the Dominion with Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and the West Indies. He contested the three general elections of 1887, 1891 and 1904, but despite his successes for the community, he was defeated on each occasion.
Henry was a progressive merchant and community leader. He owned extensive property on Cape Breton Island. Apart from the family estate of 130 acre (0.5260918 km²) at Canso, in 1863 he acquired commercial property at Point Tupper, Nova Scotia
Point Tupper, Nova Scotia
Point Tupper is a small rural community located in Richmond County, Nova Scotia on the Strait of Canso in western Cape Breton Island.-History:...
, a few miles from Port Hawkesbury, on a site 'exceedingly well situated for trade' at the main entry point between mainland Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. Here he constructed wharves and laid out a new township, selling plots doggedly to the end of his life; today he is commemorated there by 'Henry Paint Street'. His other holdings included the 'Paint seam' in coal mines at Victoria County, Nova Scotia
Victoria County, Nova Scotia
Victoria County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.The shire town and largest municipality is the village of Baddeck.-History:Named after Queen Victoria, it was established by statute in 1851...
and gypsum options at Brierley Brook in Antigonish
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Antigonish is a Canadian town in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia. The town is home to St. Francis Xavier University and the oldest continuous highland games in North America.-History:...
County.
Henry Paint has a street named after him in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
-Historical residents:*Henry Nicholas Paint , member of Parliament for Richmond county, merchant and land owner. His family received land grants at Belle Vue on the Strait of Canso in 1817 and at Point Tupper in 1863, and did much to develop the local communities in the area.*Arthur John Langley ...
(Paint Street)
Henry Paint's long life is exceptionally well documented for the period, largely from letters written in his old age to his grandchildren, some of which were published in 2005. He died at his house at 3 Artillery Place, Halifax, aged 91.
His younger daughter, Mary Le Mesurier, married Sir Charles Tertius Mander
Charles Tertius Mander
Sir Charles Tertius Mander, 1st Baronet JP, DL, was a Midland manufacturer , philanthropist and public servant, of Wolverhampton, England....
, first baronet, of the Mander family
Mander family
The Mander family has held for over 200 years a prominent position in the Midland counties of England, both in the family business and public life....
, industrialists and philanthropists dominant in the English Midlands. His elder daughter, Flora St Clair, married Sir Charles's first cousin, Theodore Mander, builder of Wightwick Manor
Wightwick Manor
Wightwick Manor is a Victorian manor house located on Wightwick Bank, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England, and one of only a few surviving examples of a house built and furnished under the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement...
, one of the most notable Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
houses in England.
Sources
- Nicholas ManderSir Nicholas Mander, 4th BaronetSir Nicholas Mander, 4th Baronet is a British baronet.He is the elder son of Charles Marcus Mander, 3rd baronet of The Mount, by Maria Dolores , née Brödermann, of Hamburg, whom he succeeded in 2006. He was educated at Downside School, Trinity College, Cambridge , and Grenoble University...
, Varnished leaves : a biography of the Mander family of WolverhamptonWolverhamptonWolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, 1750-1950. Dursley: OwlpenOwlpen ManorOwlpen Manor is a Tudor Grade I listed manor house of the Mander family, situated in the village of Owlpen in the Stroud district in Gloucestershire, England. There is an associated estate set in a picturesque valley within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
Press. 2004. ISBN 0954605608.