Robert Sanderson was a merchant, ship owner 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 was a member of the 1st General Assembly of Nova Scotia

1st General Assembly of Nova Scotia

1st General Assembly of Nova Scotia represented Nova Scotia between October 2, 1758 and December 4, 1759, its membership being set in the 1758 Nova Scotia general election....

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He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Robert Sanderson. In 1718, he married Ann Orne. He married Mary Masters in 1727. Sanderson was chosen as the first Speaker of the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia

Speaker of the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia

The Speaker for the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia is the presiding Officer of the House of Assembly. Gordie Gosse is the current Speaker of the 61st General Assembly of Nova Scotia....

, serving from 1758 to August 1759. He was replaced by William Nesbitt

William Nesbitt

William Nesbitt was a lawyer and political figure in Nova Scotia. He served as a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1758 to 1783....

 for the second session. With Malachy Salter

Malachy Salter

Malachy Salter , a Nova Scotia merchant and office-holder, was born at Boston, second son of Malachy Salter and Sarah Holmes. He married Susanna Mulberry, on 26 July 1744 in Boston, and they had at least 11 children...

, he was owner of the privateer

Privateer

A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...

 Lawrence, which operated during the Seven Years' War

Seven Years' War

The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...

. He later left the province; Sanderson was in England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

in 1761 and appeared before the Board of Trade and Plantations, reporting on "irregularities in the administration of the government of Nova Scotia".