Abraham Gesner (politician)
Encyclopedia
Abraham Gesner was a farmer and political figure in Nova Scotia
. He represented Annapolis County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
from 1824 to 1827.
Abraham was born near Tappan, New York (now Rockleigh, New Jersey
), the son of John Henry and Famicha (Brouwer) Gesner, and was primarily of German
descent. Serving as a Loyalist with the King's Orange Rangers during the American Revolution
, he purchased a commission of major in the British Army. With his twin brother Henry (father of Abraham Pineo Gesner
, a geologist and writer, best known as the inventor of kerosene), he came to Nova Scotia in 1779 and eventually settled on a farm at Belleisle in the township of Granville. Abraham became prominent in the province for fruit culture on the farm. In 1787 he married Elizabeth Steadman and they were the parents of twelve children. He was elected to the provincial assembly in 1824 after Thomas Ritchie
resigned, but did not run for re-election in 1827, citing his age and an interest in pursuing personal matters. Abraham died at Belleisle at the age of 94.
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 Annapolis County 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 1824 to 1827.
Abraham was born near Tappan, New York (now Rockleigh, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
), the son of John Henry and Famicha (Brouwer) Gesner, and was primarily of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
descent. Serving as a Loyalist with the King's Orange Rangers during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, he purchased a commission of major in the British Army. With his twin brother Henry (father of Abraham Pineo Gesner
Abraham Pineo Gesner
Abraham Pineo Gesner was a Canadian physician and geologist who invented kerosene. Although Ignacy Łukasiewicz developed the modern kerosene lamp, starting the world's oil industry, Gesner is considered a primary founder. Gesner was born in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia...
, a geologist and writer, best known as the inventor of kerosene), he came to Nova Scotia in 1779 and eventually settled on a farm at Belleisle in the township of Granville. Abraham became prominent in the province for fruit culture on the farm. In 1787 he married Elizabeth Steadman and they were the parents of twelve children. He was elected to the provincial assembly in 1824 after Thomas Ritchie
Thomas Ritchie (judge)
Thomas Ritchie was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Annapolis County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1806 to 1824....
resigned, but did not run for re-election in 1827, citing his age and an interest in pursuing personal matters. Abraham died at Belleisle at the age of 94.