Otto William Schwartz
Encyclopedia
Otto William Schwartz was a Russia
n-born fur trader and political figure of German
descent in Nova Scotia
. He represented Lunenburg County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
from 1773 to 1785.
He was born Otho Wilhelm Schwartz near Riga
. Schwartz entered the fur trade
and, in 1749, came to Halifax
with Edward Cornwallis
. The following year, he married Anna Justina Liebrich, a widow. In 1760, Schwartz was named "Furrier for the Indian Commerce". His business prospered and he acquired large tracts of land. Schwartz was captain in the militia, served on the grand jury at Halifax and was a commissioner of sewers for Falmouth township
. He helped found a church for people of German descent in the Halifax area, known as "the little Dutch church". Schwartz died in Halifax at the age of 70. His remains are believed to have been buried in the a crypt under the church.
Tsardom of Russia
The Tsardom of Russia was the name of the centralized Russian state from Ivan IV's assumption of the title of Tsar in 1547 till Peter the Great's foundation of the Russian Empire in 1721.From 1550 to 1700, Russia grew 35,000 km2 a year...
n-born fur trader and political figure 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 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 Lunenburg 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 1773 to 1785.
He was born Otho Wilhelm Schwartz near Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
. Schwartz entered the fur trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
and, in 1749, came to 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...
with Edward Cornwallis
Edward Cornwallis
Lieutenant General Edward Cornwallis was a British military officer who founded Halifax, Nova Scotia with 2500 settlers and later served as the Governor of Gibraltar.-Early life:...
. The following year, he married Anna Justina Liebrich, a widow. In 1760, Schwartz was named "Furrier for the Indian Commerce". His business prospered and he acquired large tracts of land. Schwartz was captain in the militia, served on the grand jury at Halifax and was a commissioner of sewers for Falmouth township
Falmouth, Nova Scotia
Falmouth, Nova Scotia is a village located along the Avon River in Hants County between Mount Denson and Windsor.Falmouth and area was known as Pisiguit by the Acadians. Having migrated from Port Royal, Nova Scotia, the Acadians were the first to settle in the area, around 1685...
. He helped found a church for people of German descent in the Halifax area, known as "the little Dutch church". Schwartz died in Halifax at the age of 70. His remains are believed to have been buried in the a crypt under the church.