Samuel George William Archibald
Encyclopedia
Samuel George William Archibald (February 5, 1777 – January 28, 1846) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia
. He represented Halifax County
from 1806 to 1836 and Colchester County
from 1836 to 1841 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
.
He was born Samuel George Washington Archibald in Truro, Nova Scotia
, the son of Samuel Archibald
and Rachel Todd. His grandfather David Archibald
, an immigrant from Ulster
, was one of the founders of Truro, and raised the boy after the death of his father in 1780. At the age of 15, he went to Massachusetts
for further education, returning four years later. After his return, he studied law with Simon Bradstreet Robie
In 1802, he married Elizabeth Dickson, the sister of Thomas Dickson, and, later that year, became probate judge for Colchester and Pictou districts. In 1805, Archibald was admitted to practice as an attorney and barrister. Archibald was named King's Counsel in 1817. In 1818, he was surrogate general for the colony's vice admiralty court
. In 1819, he unsuccessfully prosecuted Richard John Uniacke, Jr.
who took part in the last fatal duel in Nova Scotia. Archibald set up an oat mill in Truro in 1822. Archibald also served as Chief Justice for Prince Edward Island
from 1824 to 1828, although he never resided on the island. He was speaker
for the legislative assembly from 1824 to 1841. In 1826, he was named solicitor general for Nova Scotia. In 1830, Archibald was named acting attorney general after the death of Richard John Uniacke
. He married Joanna Brinley in 1832, two years after the death of his first wife. He suffered a stroke
in 1836 which left him for a time with paralysis of his facial muscles and difficulty speaking. In 1841, he was named master of the rolls and resigned his seat in the assembly. Archibald died in Halifax
in 1846 of a severe stroke.
His son Charles Dickson
also served in the legislative assembly and his son Edward Mortimer
became a lawyer and office-holder in Newfoundland.
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 Halifax County
Halifax County, Nova Scotia
Halifax County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.The Municipality of the County of Halifax was the municipal government of Halifax County, apart from the separately incorporated towns and cities therein...
from 1806 to 1836 and Colchester County
Colchester County, Nova Scotia
Colchester County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:The appellation Colchester was applied in 1780 to the district previously called "Cobequid," and was derived from the town of Colchester in Essex...
from 1836 to 1841 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...
.
He was born Samuel George Washington Archibald in Truro, Nova Scotia
Truro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
, the son of Samuel Archibald
Samuel Archibald
Samuel Archibald was an Irish-born farmer, merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Truro Township in the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia from 1775 to 1777....
and Rachel Todd. His grandfather David Archibald
David Archibald (politician)
David Archibald was an Irish-born farmer and politician in Nova Scotia. He represented Truro Township in the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia from 1766 to 1770....
, an immigrant from Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, was one of the founders of Truro, and raised the boy after the death of his father in 1780. At the age of 15, he went to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
for further education, returning four years later. After his return, he studied law with Simon Bradstreet Robie
Simon Bradstreet Robie
Simon Bradstreet Robie was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Truro Township from 1799 to 1806 and Halifax County from 1806 to 1826 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly....
In 1802, he married Elizabeth Dickson, the sister of Thomas Dickson, and, later that year, became probate judge for Colchester and Pictou districts. In 1805, Archibald was admitted to practice as an attorney and barrister. Archibald was named King's Counsel in 1817. In 1818, he was surrogate general for the colony's 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...
. In 1819, he unsuccessfully prosecuted Richard John Uniacke, Jr.
Richard John Uniacke, Jr.
Richard John Uniacke was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Cape Breton County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1820 to 1830....
who took part in the last fatal duel in Nova Scotia. Archibald set up an oat mill in Truro in 1822. Archibald also served as Chief Justice for Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
from 1824 to 1828, although he never resided on the island. He was speaker
Speaker of the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia
The Speaker for the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia is the presiding Officer of the House of Assembly. Gordie Gosse is the current Speaker of the 61st General Assembly of Nova Scotia....
for the legislative assembly from 1824 to 1841. In 1826, he was named solicitor general for Nova Scotia. In 1830, Archibald was named acting attorney general after the death of 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....
. He married Joanna Brinley in 1832, two years after the death of his first wife. He suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 1836 which left him for a time with paralysis of his facial muscles and difficulty speaking. In 1841, he was named master of the rolls and resigned his seat in the assembly. Archibald died 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 1846 of a severe stroke.
His son Charles Dickson
Charles Dickson Archibald
Charles Dickson Archibald was a lawyer, businessman and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Truro Township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1826 to 1830....
also served in the legislative assembly and his son Edward Mortimer
Edward Mortimer Archibald
Sir Edward Mortimer Archibald, KCMG was a British diplomat, a lawyer and an office holder active during the transition to responsible government in the colony of Newfoundland....
became a lawyer and office-holder in Newfoundland.