John K. Ryerson was a merchant 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...

, Canada. He represented Yarmouth 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 1867 to 1871 and from 1872 to 1874 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 Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

Annapolis Royal is a town located in the western part of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. Known as Port Royal until the Conquest of Acadia in 1710 by Britain, the town is the oldest continuous European settlement in North America, north of St...

, the son of Stephen D. Ryerson, and was educated there and in Yarmouth

Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

Yarmouth is a town and fishing port located on the Gulf of Maine in rural southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Yarmouth County. The town is located in the heart of the world's largest lobster fishing grounds and has Canada's highest lobster catch.- History :The townsite may...

. He went to sea at the age of seventeen, later becoming a ship owner. In 1843, he married Abby Shaw. With his business partner Nathan Moses

Nathan Moses

Nathan Moses was a merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Yarmouth township in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1855 to 1859....

 of Yarmouth, Ryerson was involved in trade with the West Indies. He was also a member of the board of governors for Yarmouth Seminary and a director of the Atlantic Marine Insurance Company. Ryerson served as a captain in the Yarmouth Naval Brigade and was also a justice of the peace

Justice of the Peace

A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...

. He ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1871 but was elected again in an 1872 by-election held after William H. Townsend

William H. Townsend

William H. Townsend was a merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Yarmouth County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1859 to 1863 as a Conservative and from 1866 to 1872 as a Liberal member....

resigned his seat due to poor health.