Haythorne, Hon. Robert Poore, Senator, Marshfield, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, was born at Clifton, Bristol, England, in the year 1815. He is a son of John Haythorne, a wool merchant of Bristol, and who was an alderman, and four times mayor of that ancient city. He was likewise a justice of the peace for Gloucestershire, in which county his residence, “Hill House” was situated. R. P. Haythorne’s grandfather, Joseph, was likewise a Bristolian, and was a banker and glass manufacturer. John Haythorne married Mary Curtis, of “Mardyke House,” Hotwells, Bristol, who became the mother of our distinguished Canadian senator. R. P. Haythorne was educated at private schools in his native place. His early life was spent at his father’s residence, but later on he devoted several years to travelling, visiting the Island of Madeira, the South of Spain, Portugal, France, Switzerland, and Italy. In 1842 he emigrated to Prince Edward Island, having, in connection with an elder brother, (subsequently the Hon. Edward C. Haythorne, a nominated member of the Legislative Council), acquired a tract of 10,000 acres of land in that colony. This land was partly wilderness, partly let to tenants for 999 years, and partly occupied by squatters. For many years the brothers devoted themselves to agricultural pursuits, and to the settlement of their estate; but the brother referred to dying in 1859, R. P. Haythorne revisited England in 1860. Returning in the following year, he married Elizabeth R., eldest daughter of Thomas Scott, of Belfast, Ireland, then of Falconwood, Prince Edward Island. Two sons were born of this marriage, one in 1862, and another in the following year, both of whom survive. Mr. Haythorne became a widower in 1866, his wife dying at Liverpool, England. About this period the free land and tenant league agitation prevailed in Prince Edward Island. Mr. Haythorne and his tenants, however, settled their differences by mutual agreement, which was faithfully carried out, the tenants becoming freeholders, by paying a sum about equivalent to $2 per acre by instalments. In 1867 Mr. Haythorne, being invited by his former tenants, became a candidate for the second electoral district of Queen’s county (Legislative Council), and was returned to that chamber by a respectable majority. Not many weeks later, the local Conservative Government led by the Hon. J. C. Pope resigned, and was succeeded by a Liberal Government led by the Hon. G. Coles, the present Judge Hensley being Attorney-General, Messrs. Haythorne, Alexander Laird, Peter Sinclair, Callbeck Howlan, and A. A. Macdonald, the present Lieut.-Governor of Prince Edward Island were members of the Executive Council. The policy of this government was the further abrogation of the leasehold tenure, by purchase on voluntary agreement if practicable, otherwise by decision of a court to be established for the purpose of deciding the sum to be paid for expropriation. Mr. Coles’ health failing, he resigned, and was succeeded by Mr. Hensley, the policy of the Government remaining unchanged as regards the land tenures. Much attention was also paid to the improvement of the highways, and the extension of steam navigation to the outports of the colony. About the year 1868, Mr. Hensley accepted a seat on the bench, and Mr. Haythorne succeeded him as Premier and President of the Executive Council. The land policy of the Government was much obstructed by the Colonial Office, the Secretary of State, the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos refusing to listen to the demands of the Executive for a compulsory expropriation law, which he condemned as “a direct interference with private property.” For the present, therefore, the efforts of Mr. Haythorne and his colleagues were limited to the purchase of such estates as could be acquired by voluntary agreement, and during the Liberals’ tenure of office some progress was made; the estates of the Hon. J. C. Pope, the Hon. T. H. Haviland, and some others being purchased by Government, and that of the Rev. James Montgomery by private agreement between the proprietor and the tenants. In the following year Lord Granville having become Secretary of State for the Colonies, Mr. Haythorne’s council again approached the Colonial Office with renewed demands for a measure of expropriation. Meantime the land owners, native and absentee—some of the latter being persons of much influence—opposed the efforts of the Government. What has now come to be recognized as the “unearned increment of value,” the Island Government claimed as the heritage of the men and women who had landed boldly in the wilderness, cleared away the forests, built houses, cities, school-houses, and churches, made roads and wharves, and caused “the wilderness to blossom as the rose.” Lord Granville proved less obdurate than his predecessors. He would not sanction an expropriation bill, but seeing the urgency of another great question in the near future, he softened his refusal in words something like these: “Having regard to the evident uncertainty, whether the colony of Prince Edward Island will or will not soon unite with the Dominion of Canada, I am not prepared to enter on the consideration of the land question, with which if such union were to ensue the Imperial Government would probably cease to concern itself; the land question therefore, should in my opinion be left as far as possible for the decision of those who under the altered circumstances of the colony would have to carry into execution any measures connected with it.”—Granville, 13th March, 1869. This despatch was generally interpreted in Prince Edward Island to mean that the land question would be settled in exchange for Confederation. Thus for the present the land question rested, to be again resuscitated on the occasion of the introduction of “a Tenants’ Compensation Bill for Ireland,” a measure nearly identical with one introduced years before, during a former administration of Hon. Mr. Coles, and passed through the Island Legislature, but vetoed at the Colonial Office. During these years the fishery question had caused some trouble. The American fishing vessels had been admitted to the British-American waters on payment of tonnage license dues, but in 1868 Canada declined to continue the system, resolving to exclude the Americans, who had recently terminated the reciprocity treaty. Meantime, in the island, the Americans were admitted to their usual privileges, as regards frequenting the harbours, transhipping cargoes, and obtaining supplies. But the attention of the Imperial Government being called thereto, the Admiral on the Halifax station (Wellesley), and the officers commanding the smaller vessels of his squadron, were ordered to put a stop to the “alleged illegal practices.” These orders gave rise to long correspondence between the officers of Her Majesty’s ships, notably Captain E. Hardinge, of the frigate Valorous, and the Island Executive. The former interfered with the island and colonial coasters on very trifling grounds, and prevented the American fishing vessels from transhipping their cargoes and renewing their outfits on the island ports, causing much discontent amongst shipowners and the numerous class of traders interested. (Vide L. C. Journals, 1871.) In consequence, a minute of council for the information of the Secretary of State was drawn up, September 2nd, 1870, protesting against such interference with “our best customers the Americans, who transhipped cargoes in our ports—renewing their supplies of salt, barrels, provisions, and general outfit in our markets.” This memorial was “drawn up,” the Secretary of State, Lord Kimberley, observes, “with much ability and moderation,” and his Lordship authorized the Lieut.-Governor Robinson (now Sir William Robinson, South Australia), “to suspend the restrictions the local Government felt called upon to impose.” This was the last public act of Mr. Haythorne’s first administration. Shortly afterwards finding his supporters in the House of Assembly in a minority, caused by the secession of the two Catholic members of his government, he resigned, and was succeeded by a coalition Government led by the Hon. J. C. Pope, the two Catholic members of the late Government accepting seats in the Executive. During the late Liberal Administrations the island had been visited by Prince Arthur, by Lord and Lady Lisgar, and a Canadian deputation, including Sir L. Tilley, Sir Geo. E. Cartier, and Sir E. Kenny; the object of this “descent” being to attract the Islanders into Confederation by an offer of “better terms.” These, however, were declined, 90 out of 100 Islanders at that juncture being opposed to Confederation. An informal Congressional deputation, of which the well-known General B. Butler was a member, also visited the island, their object being to ascertain whether any approach to reciprocity could be made. This visit, though it was without results, indicated a kindly disposition on both sides. It obtained for the Executive of the Island a snub from the Secretary of State, the Lieutenant-Governor (Dundas), having taken short leave to visit Halifax at this period. During the later months of 1870, through 1871, and till April, 1873, Mr. Haythorne was in Opposition. This was the period of the development and adoption of the railroad policy, which by the financial embarrassment it caused, ultimately drew the island into Confederation. Mr. Pope’s Government being supported by considerable majorities, carried his railway bill for the construction of a trunk line connecting Charlottetown with Summerside and Alberton on the west, and with Georgetown on the east, and providing for future extensions to Souris and Tignish. Soon, however, after the rising of the legislature, Mr. Pope’s majority began to fade away, and in 1872, being defeated in the Assembly, and again on an appeal to the people, he resigned, and Mr. Haythorne being again called on to form an Administration, succeeded, and carried the law relating to the railway extensions into effect. In the latter part of the year 1872, and the commencement of 1873, the financial and other difficulties which his Government encountered were almost overpowering. The trunk line was under rapid construction, and interest on debentures began to accrue half yearly at a rapidly increasing rate. Large drafts on the local treasury were also required in payment of rights of way, and land damages, which added to the ordinary expenditure seemed beyond the power of the island to meet by increased taxation. The Government therefore, re-opened communication with the Dominion Government, then led by Sir John Macdonald, with a view to ascertain the terms on which the island would be admitted to Confederation. Being invited to send a deputation to Ottawa, Mr. Haythorne and his colleague in the Executive, the Hon. David Laird, were chosen to perform this duty. They arrived in the capital a few days before the meeting of Parliament, in February, 1873, Lord Dufferin being Governor-General. The delegates were put in communication chiefly with Sir L. Tilley, and negotiated terms which seemed highly advantageous to the island. These comprised six seats in the Commons, the taking over and operating of the Island railway by the Dominion, the assumption of the island debt, the providing of a sum of $800,000 for the acquisition of proprietary lands, and the vesting of the same in local legislature. Continuous steam communication summer and winter with the mainland was also guaranteed. Before signing these preliminaries which the delegates undertook to introduce to their respective branches of the legislature, the House of Assembly was dissolved, and writs forthwith issued for the election of a new parliament. The following telegram from Lord Dufferin to Gov. Robinson, P.E.I., 12th March, 1873, may be quoted: “The delegates from your Government have left Ottawa, having succeeded in effecting a provisional arrangement. I congratulate you on P.E.I. having obtained such liberal terms. My ministers are of opinion, in which I fully concur, that no additional concessions would have any chance of being accepted by the Parliament of Canada.—Dufferin.” Though the new terms were very generally approved, the policy of the Opposition led by Mr. Pope prevailed. It was to send another deputation to Ottawa, and demand further concessions. And it succeeded, proving more attractive to the majority of electors. Mr. Haythorne finding his government in a minority resigned, and Mr. Pope resumed office. On the assembling of the new parliament, Messrs. J. C. Pope, T. H. Haviland, and G. W. Howlan were sent to Ottawa, and after some delay, secured some further concessions, which were finally adopted in addition to the so-called Haythorne-Laird terms, and being ratified, the island entered Confederation on July 1st, 1873. The following autumn Mr. Haythorne was summoned to the Senate, and took his seat during the short session of that year, when the Pacific Railway scandal led to the resignation of Sir John Macdonald’s Government, and the advent of Mr. Mackenzie and his friends to power. In the Senate Mr. Haythorne has been a pronounced freetrader, and a supporter of the general policy of the Liberal party. He dissented, however, from so much of their election law as went to substitute (temporarily) the franchise of the Legislative Council of Prince Edward Island, for the manhood suffrage which had long existed there, and supported an amendment moved by Senator Haviland, which provided for the continuance of the existing franchise in that province, until registration courts should be established. This amendment being carried in the Senate, it was agreed to by the Commons. He supported the Scott Act, though somewhat doubtful respecting the fitness of some of its clauses. He has steadily opposed all attempts to circumscribe its operation, or diminish its efficacy. During the session of 1885, he avowed a change of opinion, as to its principles and policy. This contention being briefly: (1st) That the Canada Temperance Act, 1878, is practically inoperative against the drunkard; while it abridges the natural liberty of sober consumers of fermented liquors; (2nd) That the optional theory is unsound, because where most needed in a community addicted to intemperance, it receives least support, and would be generally carried where least needed; and because it is the duty of Government to propose to Parliament such measures as are necessary to obviate a national tendency to intemperance; (3rd) Prohibition tends to produce smuggling, illicit trading, and sale of pernicious spirits, and experience proves that perjury sometimes results on the prosecution of offenders.
Gingras, Hon. Jean Elie, ex-Member of the Legislative Council of the Province of Quebec, is one of the oldest and best known citizens of Quebec city, where he was born on the 5th of June, in the year 1804, of humble but respectable French Canadian parents, then residing in the shipping quarter of the city known as Diamond Harbor, which extends along the river front beneath the citadel. The educational advantages he enjoyed in his youth were limited, as he had to face the stern necessities of life at an age when other lads, more fortunately situated, are still considered in their teens. Put to learn the trade of the ship carpenter, he worked for a number of years in the ship-yard of the late Mr. Black, the builder of the Royal William, the first steam vessel that successfully crossed the Atlantic, and eventually became his foreman. He afterwards engaged in the ship-building business on his own account. This was in the palmy days of that great industry in Quebec, and Mr. Gingras, by dint of skill, energy and enterprise, rapidly worked himself into the front rank of those engaged in it, employing a large amount of labor, and acquiring considerable wealth and influence in the community. During this stage of his long and useful life, his fellow-citizens marked their appreciation of his worth by electing him a member of the city corporation, and the government of the day by appointing him a member of the Quebec Trinity House. A Conservative in politics, he was also nominated by his party in 1864 to contest the seat for the Stadacona division in the Legislative Council with the then mayor of Quebec city, A. Tourangeau, who afterwards became M.P. for Quebec East, and is now city postmaster. This was before confederation, when the Legislative Council of Canada was elective. After a severe contest, Mr. Gingras was returned at the head of the poll, and represented the Stadacona division in the Council from 1864 until the union, when he was appointed by the Crown a member of the Legislative Council of the province of Quebec for life. During the decline of wooden ship-building at Quebec, Mr. Gingras lost heavily, and finally retired from business with a remnant of his once large fortune. He continued, however, to hold his seat in the Legislative Council of the province until the close of 1887, when, on attaining his eighty-fourth year of age, he resigned it and was succeeded by Hon. G. Bresse, the great boot and shoe manufacturer of Quebec East. Notwithstanding his advanced age, Mr. Gingras is still hale and hearty, and few men enjoy a larger share of public respect. He was thrice married. His last wife, as were her predecessors, being a Quebec lady, whom he married in 1887. Like the vast majority of his fellow-countrymen, he is a Roman Catholic.
Weldon, Richard Chapman, B.A., Ph.D., Halifax, Nova Scotia, M.P. for Albert County, New Brunswick, is a native of Sussex, N.B., where he was born on the 19th January, 1849. He is the grandson of Andrew Weldon, a native of Yorkshire, England, who emigrated and settled in Westmoreland county, N.B., about a hundred years ago. The greater part of the province was then a wilderness, and Andrew Weldon was one of its foremost pioneers. Dr. Weldon’s paternal grandmother was Sarah Black, sister of Rev. William Black, the founder of Methodism in the maritime provinces. The late Rev. Dr. Matthew Richie wrote an interesting biography of the Rev. Mr. Black, and a centenary memorial hall at Mount Allison College, N.B., marks the esteem in which his name is held by the church which he labored to establish, and will long keep his memory green. The cause, under his zealous advocacy, made great headway, until now, the Methodist church is one of the largest and most progressive in the maritime provinces. Dr. Weldon received his earlier education at the Superior School, in Upper Sussex. He matriculated at Mount Allison and took the degree of B.A. after a very successful course. After leaving Sackville he went to Yale College, in the United States, and after prosecuting his studies there with great zeal for two years took the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The success of his post-graduate course was so great as to tempt him to enjoy the advantages of European travel and study. Having decided that his vocation lay in the department of international law, he went to the famous University of Heidelberg, which two years since celebrated its tercentenary, and there worked hard at its chosen subject of study. Heidelberg enrols about thirteen hundred students, from all parts of the world. The situation of the university, under the old schloss (in ruins since the middle of the last century, when it was the seat of government of the old palatinate), and over-looking the valley of the beautiful Neckar flowing swiftly by amid it opulent vineyards, is one of the prettiest in the whole world. Many of the ablest jurists, statisticians and publicists in Germany have received their training in Heidelberg. After enjoying the pleasure of visiting some of the greatest resorts in the old world, Dr. Weldon returned home, and in 1875 accepted the position of a professor at Mount Allison College. He held this office until 1883. As a professor at his Alma Mater he was careful and painstaking, and earned the reputation of being the ablest man in the college. He continued his studies in law and was called to the bar of his native province, but never practised. About 1882 the princely donations of George Munro, the New York publisher, to Dalhousie College, Halifax, gave a great impetus to that seat of learning, and it was resolved to establish a chair of constitutional law. In casting about for a man to fill it, no better name was suggested than that of Dr. Weldon. This was a rare honor, coming as it did from a neighboring, and, in some respects, a rival college. Of this law school there are two professors and six lecturers, the latter being selected from among the ablest practitioners at the bar of Nova Scotia. Dr. Weldon is dean of the school, and delivers lectures in constitutional law and history, conflict of laws and international law. There are about fifty students, coming from all parts of the maritime provinces. The school possesses a fairly equipped and serviceable law library. To this library Dr. Weldon is one of the largest donors, having contributed $500. Having passed the required examinations, Dr. Weldon was, on the 9th December, 1884, admitted to the bar of Nova Scotia. His lectures are very popular, and he is held in high esteem by the students and the faculty of Dalhousie at large. Although he had resided at times long out of his native province, Dr. Weldon never ceased to feel a warm interest in her affairs as well as in the larger political movements in the Dominion. His sympathies lay with the Conservatives. Previous to the general election of 1887 he was nominated by the Conservatives of Albert county. He at once entered into the canvass and conducted a series of public meetings, in which he made a favorable impression. The opposition candidate was a very strong man, Mr. Alexander Rogers. The vote stood: Weldon, 1,047; Rogers, 923. Dr. Weldon signalized his entrance into the Commons by seconding the Address. He had carefully studied the fishery question in its larger bearings, and won applause by saying that if the sixty million people of the United States insisted upon their contentions, five millions on this side of the border would stand by their rights. Dr. Weldon is a man of modest bearing, and is always listened to with respect by the house. He is connected with the Methodists; his wife, whom he married in 1877, being Marie, eldest daughter of Rev. G. W. Tuttle, at that time stationed in the Stellarton—Pictou county, N.S.—circuit.
McNicoll, David, Montreal, General Passenger Agent, for the territory east of Port Arthur of the Canadian Pacific Railway, is still a young man, though his position is one of large responsibilities. He was born in the seaport town of Arbroath, in Forfarshire, Scotland, in April, 1852, and was only just beginning his fourteenth year when, in August, 1866, he entered the railway service as clerk in the goods manager’s office of the North British Railway. In that position he remained until 1873, when he removed to England and obtained a similar berth in the Midland Railway of that country. When he was in his twenty-first year he was induced to come to Canada, where his previous experience proved of service in procuring him employment in the same business. He became associated with railway enterprise in the Dominion in the year 1874. His first introduction to it was in the capacity of billing clerk on the Northern Railway, at Meaford and Collingwood. Before the close of his first year on Canadian railways, he was promoted to be chief clerk in the office of the general manager of the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway, at Toronto. He remained in that position until 1881, when he became the general freight and passenger agent of the same railway, and general traffic agent of the Owen Sound steamship line, trading on the upper lakes. In 1883 he received the appointment of general passenger agent of the Credit Valley, Toronto, Grey and Bruce, and Ontario and Quebec railways, and when these lines were amalgamated with the Canadian Pacific Railway, and operated as the Ontario division of the same, he retained his position as general passenger agent at Toronto until the spring of 1885, when his office was removed to Montreal. He then received the appointment of general passenger agent of all the lines of the Canadian Pacific Railway east of Port Arthur, which position he now holds. Mr. McNicoll is well known in Toronto and Montreal, and enjoys the confidence and esteem both of his superiors and colleagues and of the travelling public.
Ellis, Wm. Hodgson, B.A., M.B., L.R.C.P., Toronto, is a native of Derbyshire, England, where he was born on the 23rd of November, 1845. His father, Dr. John Eimeo Ellis, was an English physician of some note, and his grandfather, the Rev. William Ellis, was the famed missionary to Madagascar, at the beginning of the century, and well known by his admirable work dealing with missionary labor on the large and interesting island in the Indian ocean, which lately came under the protection of France. When he was in his fourteenth year, young Ellis came to Canada, and in 1863 he matriculated at University College, Toronto, and four years afterwards took his B.A. degree. During his university career, he was a diligent and successful student, particularly distinguishing himself in science, for the study of which he had an inherited taste, and a great natural aptitude. While an undergraduate, he became a member of the University Rifle corps, of which he was afterwards made captain; and in June, 1866, was with the “Queen’s Own,” at the historic field of Ridgeway, where the university corps took a memorable part in the engagement with the invading Fenians. On taking his arts degree, Mr. Ellis devoted himself to the study of medicine, and in one course won his M.B. degree, at the Toronto School of Medicine; after which he proceeded to London, England, there to complete his professional studies. These he pursued at St. Thomas’ Hospital, where he soon obtained the degree of Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians, London. He now returned to Canada, and in 1871 was appointed Professor of Chemistry in Trinity Medical School, and lecturer of chemistry in Trinity College, Toronto. Five years later he was appointed by the Ontario government instructor in chemistry in the Provincial College of Technology, now the School of Practical Science, in affiliation with Toronto University. When the college was removed to the Queen’s Park and attached to the university, Dr. Ellis resigned his professorship in Trinity College, and assumed his present position, the Professorship of Applied Chemistry, and was at the same time appointed by the Dominion government Public Analyst for the Inland Revenue, district of Toronto. To these important positions the learned professor brings great natural and acquired powers, an alert, widely stored, and comprehensive mind, and, though still young, a large experience, and the fruits of wide study and research. He is moreover an interesting lecturer and a successful instructor; and his genial manner, no less than his high attainments, wins for him the regard and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact. Dr. Ellis is an active member of the Canadian Institute, and for two years was its president. He is also a Fellow of the Chemical Society of London, England, and a Fellow of the Society of Public Analysts of Great Britain. Dr. Ellis married in 1875, Ellen Maud, daughter of Charles Mickle, of the city of Guelph, by whom he has had two children. He is a member of the Anglican church.