Benjamin Franklin Pearson
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Franklin Pearson (April 4, 1855 – January 31, 1912) was a lawyer, entrepreneur and political figure in Nova Scotia
, Canada. He represented Colchester County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
from 1901 to 1911 as a Liberal
member.
He was born in Masstown, Nova Scotia
, the son of Frederick M. Pearson
and Eliza Crowe, and was educated at Pictou Academy
and Dalhousie College
. In 1876, he married Julia Reading. He studied law with Otto Schwartz Weeks
and entered practice in Halifax
in 1884. He soon became involved in various business ventures, including a steamship service between Halifax and Dartmouth and a railway. He helped establish the Nova Scotia Telephone Company, the People's Heat and Light Company, the Halifax Electric Tramway Company and the Dominion Iron and Steel Company. With American partners, Pearson purchased a large number of small independent coal mines in the province. He went on to establish the West India Electric Company, the Cuban Electric Company and the Mexican Light and Power Company. He also acquired a number of newspapers in Nova Scotia, including the Halifax Morning Chronicle, the Nova Scotian and Weekly Chronicle, the Daily Echo, the Glace Bay Gazette and the St. John Daily Sun. In 1904, Pearson was named King's Counsel. In 1906, he was named minister without portfolio in the province's Executive Council. He was chosen as president of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society in 1908. He died in Halifax at the age of 56.
His daughter Florence married Fleming Blanchard McCurdy
.
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...
, Canada. He represented Colchester 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 1901 to 1911 as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Nova Scotia
The Liberal Party of Nova Scotia is a political party in Nova Scotia, Canada.-Origins:The party is descended from the pre-Confederation Reformers in Nova Scotia who coalesced around Joseph Howe demanding the institution of responsible government...
member.
He was born in Masstown, Nova Scotia
Masstown, Nova Scotia
Masstown is a farming community located approximately 17 kilometers from Truro, Nova Scotia.-Historic background:Masstown has its beginnings with French settlers, known as Acadians. They first settled in this area near the Cobequid Bay in 1705. The Acadian culture consisted primarily of farming...
, the son of Frederick M. Pearson
Frederick M. Pearson
Frederick M Pearson was a Nova Scotia businessman and political figure. He represented Colchester in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal member from 1870 to 1874....
and Eliza Crowe, and was educated at Pictou Academy
Pictou Academy
Pictou Academy , founded in 1816 by the late Dr. Thomas McCulloch, is a secondary school in Pictou, Nova Scotia. Prior to the twentieth century, it was a liberal nonsectarian college, a grammar school, an academy and then a secondary school. Pictou Academy's current principal is James Ryan. The...
and Dalhousie College
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
. In 1876, he married Julia Reading. He studied law with Otto Schwartz Weeks
Otto Schwartz Weeks
Otto Schwartz Weeks was a lawyer and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Guysborough County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1874 to 1878 and from 1882 to 1890 as a Liberal member....
and entered practice 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 1884. He soon became involved in various business ventures, including a steamship service between Halifax and Dartmouth and a railway. He helped establish the Nova Scotia Telephone Company, the People's Heat and Light Company, the Halifax Electric Tramway Company and the Dominion Iron and Steel Company. With American partners, Pearson purchased a large number of small independent coal mines in the province. He went on to establish the West India Electric Company, the Cuban Electric Company and the Mexican Light and Power Company. He also acquired a number of newspapers in Nova Scotia, including the Halifax Morning Chronicle, the Nova Scotian and Weekly Chronicle, the Daily Echo, the Glace Bay Gazette and the St. John Daily Sun. In 1904, Pearson was named King's Counsel. In 1906, he was named minister without portfolio in the province's Executive Council. He was chosen as president of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society in 1908. He died in Halifax at the age of 56.
His daughter Florence married Fleming Blanchard McCurdy
Fleming Blanchard McCurdy
Fleming Blanchard McCurdy, was a Canadian politician.Born in Old Barns, Nova Scotia, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the Nova Scotia riding of Shelburne and Queen's in the 1911 election as a Conservative...
.