Henry Goudge was a merchant, ship builder and political figure in Nova Scotia

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 Hants County from 1836 to 1840 and Windsor township from 1840 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...

 as a Reformer.

He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia

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...

, the son of Alexander Goudge and Sarah Power. In 1826, he married Elizabeth McHeffey. Goudge was involved in the trade in gypsum

Gypsum

Gypsum is a very soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. It is found in alabaster, a decorative stone used in Ancient Egypt. It is the second softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale...

 at Windsor

Windsor, Nova Scotia

Windsor is a town located in Hants County, Mainland Nova Scotia at the junction of the Avon and St. Croix Rivers. It is the largest community in western Hants County with a 2001 population of 3,779 and was at one time the shire town of the county. The region encompassing present day Windsor was...

. In 1834, he was part of a group of merchants petitioning for Windsor to become a free port so that ships carrying imported goods could enter the province there and pay the required duties. Goudge died in office at the age of 36 by drowning at Windsor while sailing to his shipyard.

His son Monson Henry

Monson Henry Goudge

Monson Henry Goudge was a Canadian merchant and political figure. He represented Hants in the Canadian House of Commons from 1873 to 1878 as a Liberal member. His surname also appears as Gouge....

later served in the Canadian House of Commons.