Hewitt Bernard
Encyclopedia
Hewitt Bernard, was a Canadian
lawyer, militia officer, editor, and civil servant.
Hewitt was born in Spanish Town
, Jamaica
, educated in Bath, England and practiced law in Jamaica until the death of his father in 1850. He came to Canada and settled in Barrie, Upper Canada
where he became part of the local society. In 1854, he brought his mother and sister Agnes to live with him. About that time he joined the local militia and eventually gained the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
Bernard was a successful lawyer and co-editor of the Upper Canada Law Journal when he became Attorney General John A. Macdonald
's private secretary in 1857. He soon became chief clerk
. He was the recording secretary at the Charlottetown Conference
. In February 1867, Hewitt's sister Agnes married John A. Macdonald.
Some historians consider Hewitt Bernard to be one of the Fathers of Confederation. After Confederation, he became Principal Secretary of Canada
.
In 1872 he was a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
lawyer, militia officer, editor, and civil servant.
Hewitt was born in Spanish Town
Spanish Town
Spanish Town is the capital and the largest town in the parish of St. Catherine in the county of Middlesex, Jamaica. It was the former Spanish and English capital of Jamaica from the 16th to the 19th century...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, educated in Bath, England and practiced law in Jamaica until the death of his father in 1850. He came to Canada and settled in Barrie, Upper Canada
Barrie
Barrie may refer to:* Barrie, city in Ontario, Canada* Barrie , Canadian federal electoral district* Barrie , provincial electoral district* Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, former Canadian electoral district...
where he became part of the local society. In 1854, he brought his mother and sister Agnes to live with him. About that time he joined the local militia and eventually gained the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
Bernard was a successful lawyer and co-editor of the Upper Canada Law Journal when he became Attorney General John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
's private secretary in 1857. He soon became chief clerk
Chief Clerk
The Chief Clerk, between 1789 and 1853, was the second-ranking official within the United States Department of State, known as the Department of Foreign Affairs before September 5, 1789. Section 2 of the Act of Congress of July 27, 1789 The Chief Clerk, between 1789 and 1853, was the second-ranking...
. He was the recording secretary at the Charlottetown Conference
Charlottetown Conference
The Charlottetown Conference was held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island for representatives from the colonies of British North America to discuss Canadian Confederation...
. In February 1867, Hewitt's sister Agnes married John A. Macdonald.
Some historians consider Hewitt Bernard to be one of the Fathers of Confederation. After Confederation, he became Principal Secretary of Canada
Principal Secretary (Canada)
In Canada the Principal Secretary is a senior aide, often the most senior political aide, to a head of government. Formerly the position of Principal Secretary was the most senior in the Canadian Prime Minister's Office, though since 1987 it is second to the Chief of Staff...
.
In 1872 he was a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
.