Thomas Killam
Encyclopedia
Thomas Killam was a Nova Scotia
shipbuilder and political figure. He represented Yarmouth
as an Anti-Confederate
member from 1867 to 1868.
He was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
in 1802, the son of a shipbuilder there, and built his first ship, a schooner
, in 1839. He built a number of ships for the fisheries and owned or part-owned about 60 ships by 1865. He was also involved in the trade of goods between North America and Britain
. In 1837, Killam became a director of the Yarmouth Marine Insurance Association; he was also a director of the Bank of Yarmouth from 1863 to 1868 and of the Yarmouth Academy.
He was elected to the General Assembly of Nova Scotia
for Yarmouth County
in 1847 as a Reformer and served on the public accounts committee as a member and later chairman. He opposed public ownership of utilities; he was part of a private group that took over ownership of the Nova Scotia Electric Telegraph Company and opposed Joseph Howe
's plans for a government-funded railway in the province. In 1851, Killam was reelected as a Reformer opposed to the Reform government's policies and, in 1855, he was elected to the assembly as a Conservative. He supported the development of municipal government in the province; Yarmouth incorporated in 1856, but then requested that its active of incorporation be repealed in 1858 because of higher taxes. He opposed railway expansion within the province and opposed Confederation
.
In 1867, Killam was elected to the House of Commons; he supported the removal of Nova Scotia from the union and remain fixed in that opinion until his death in Digby
in 1868.
Killam was married twice: to Sophia Corning in 1823 and to Elizabeth Gale Dudman in 1841. His son Frank
was elected to his father's seat in the House of Commons as a Liberal in an 1869 by-election.
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...
shipbuilder and political figure. He represented Yarmouth
Yarmouth (electoral district)
For the current provincial electoral district, see Yarmouth Yarmouth was a federal electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1917. It was created by the British North America Act of 1867. It consisted of the County of Yarmouth...
as an Anti-Confederate
Anti-Confederation Party
Anti-Confederation was the name used in what is now Atlantic Canada by several parties opposed to Canadian confederation.-Nova Scotia:In Nova Scotia, the "Anti-Confederates" were led by Joseph Howe. They attempted to reverse the colony's decision to join Confederation, which was initially highly...
member from 1867 to 1868.
He was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
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...
in 1802, the son of a shipbuilder there, and built his first ship, a schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
, in 1839. He built a number of ships for the fisheries and owned or part-owned about 60 ships by 1865. He was also involved in the trade of goods between North America and Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
. In 1837, Killam became a director of the Yarmouth Marine Insurance Association; he was also a director of the Bank of Yarmouth from 1863 to 1868 and of the Yarmouth Academy.
He was elected to the General Assembly of Nova Scotia
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...
for Yarmouth County
Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia
For the ship built in Yarmouth County, see County of YarmouthYarmouth County is a rural county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It has both traditional Anglo-Scottish and Acadian French culture as well as significant inland wilderness areas, including over 365 lakes and several major rivers...
in 1847 as a Reformer and served on the public accounts committee as a member and later chairman. He opposed public ownership of utilities; he was part of a private group that took over ownership of the Nova Scotia Electric Telegraph Company and opposed Joseph Howe
Joseph Howe
Joseph Howe, PC was a Nova Scotian journalist, politician, and public servant. He is one of Nova Scotia's greatest and best-loved politicians...
's plans for a government-funded railway in the province. In 1851, Killam was reelected as a Reformer opposed to the Reform government's policies and, in 1855, he was elected to the assembly as a Conservative. He supported the development of municipal government in the province; Yarmouth incorporated in 1856, but then requested that its active of incorporation be repealed in 1858 because of higher taxes. He opposed railway expansion within the province and opposed Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
.
In 1867, Killam was elected to the House of Commons; he supported the removal of Nova Scotia from the union and remain fixed in that opinion until his death in Digby
Digby, Nova Scotia
Digby is a Canadian town in western Nova Scotia. It is the shiretown and largest population centre in Digby County.The town is situated on the western shore of the Annapolis Basin near the entrance to the Digby Gut which connects the basin to the Bay of Fundy.Named after Admiral Robert Digby, RN,...
in 1868.
Killam was married twice: to Sophia Corning in 1823 and to Elizabeth Gale Dudman in 1841. His son Frank
Frank Killam
Frank Killam was a Canadian politician and a member of the Canadian House of Commons for the riding of Yarmouth in Nova Scotia....
was elected to his father's seat in the House of Commons as a Liberal in an 1869 by-election.