A look back at Pictou County’s history of Tory leaders
Since the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative party was founded, there have been 31 leaders and of those, nine have Pictou County ties. Here’s a look at the past leaders of the party.
Hiram Blanchard
Premier: July 4, 1867-Sept. 30, 1867 Party Leader: July 4, 1867-Nov. 30, 1874
Born: January 17, 1820, at West River, Pictou County
Died: Dec. 17, 1874, at Halifax, N.S. Notes: A graduate of Pictou Academy, he went on to become a lawyer. He served as attorney general from July 4 to Nov. 7, 1867, and at that time, the attorney general was usually considered to be leader of the government. In 1868, he was the leader of the opposition. During his absence from the Assembly in 1869, 1870 and 1871, Amos Purdy acted as chief spokesperson for the few oppositionists. From 1872 to 1874, Blanchard again led the opposition, but he did not receive unquestioned recognition.
Simon Hugh Holmes
Premier: Oct. 22, 1878-May 23, 1882 Party Leader: May 25, 1875-1882 Born: July 30, 1831, at Springvale, Pictou County
Died: Oct. 14, 1919, at Halifax, N.S. Notes: In 1858, Holmes founded and edited the Pictou Colonial Standard, a position he held until he became Nova Scotia’s fourth premier. He assumed the leadership of the opposition in the House in 1875 with the passive acceptance of his fellow Assemblymen. After the Conservative victory of 1878, he was called upon to form the government and became premier.
Adam Carr Bell
Premier: n/a
Party Leader: Jan. 22, 1882-1887 Born: Nov. 11, 1847, at Pictou Died: Oct. 30, 1912, at Montreal, Quebec
Notes: In addition to serving as New Glasgow’s first mayor, Bell was elected to the House of Assembly in 1878 and assumed the PC leadership in 1882 as the leading ex-cabinet minister. Although he resigned the “leadership of the party” in 1887, he never received official recognition as attested to by the fact that he was nowhere described during the campaign of 1886.
Charles Elliott Tanner
Premier: n/a
Party Leader: 1912-1916 House Leader: 1902-1908; 19121916
Born: Oct. 7, 1857, at Pictou, N.S. Died: Jan. 13, 1946, at Liverpool, N.S. Notes: A graduate of Pictou Academy, he represented the District of Pictou in the House of Assembly. As the leading Conservative Assemblyman, he assumed the position of leader in 1902 because of ability. Selected again in 1912 by the Caucus to be both the House Leader and the Party leader.
John McKay Baillie
Premier: n/a
Party Leader: n/a
House Leader: 1909-1911
Born: Dec. 10, 1847, at Earltown, N.S. Died: May 4, 1913, at New Glasgow, N.S.
Notes: A graduate of Pictou Academy, Baillie served as superintendent for the Pictou County Municipal Home from around 1882 to 1907. He represented Pictou County in the legislature from 1906-1911. Selected by the caucus as leader, he was opposition leader from 19101911.
Donald William Cameron
Premier: Feb. 26, 1991-June 11, 1993
Party Leader: Feb. 26, 1991-June 11, 1993
Born: May 20, 1946, at Egerton, Pictou County, N.S.
Died: n/a Notes: First elected to represent Pictou East in 1974, he was selected by a party convention as leader in February 1991, becoming Nova Scotia’s 22nd premier later that same month.
John Frederick Hamm Premier: July 27, 1999-Feb. 24, 2006 Party Leader: Oct. 28, 1995-Feb. 11, 2006
Born: April 8, 1938, at Stellarton, N.S. Notes: First elected in Pictou Centre in 1993, he was selected by a party convention as leader in 1995. Karla Michelle MacFarlane
Premier: n/a
Party Leader (interim): January 23, 2018 – Oct. 27, 2018
MLA: Pictou West, Oct. 8, 2013 – Present
Born: April 29, 1969, at Pictou, N.S. Notes: Selected by the Caucus.
Tim Houston
Party Leader: Oct. 27, 2018-present Born: Halifax, N.S.
Notes: Elected on the second ballet during the most recent leadership convention. He was first elected to legislature in 2013 to represent Pictou East and declared his intent to run for leader of the party in November 2017.
Source: http://pcparty.ns.ca/pcparty/historical-leaders/