The Hon. Thomas Reuben Black (16 October 1832 – 14 September 1905) was a Canadian politician, senator and farmer from Amherst

Amherst, Nova Scotia

Amherst is a Canadian town in northwestern Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.Located at the northeast end of the Cumberland Basin, an arm of the Bay of Fundy, Amherst is strategically situated on the eastern boundary of the Tantramar Marshes 3 kilometres east of the interprovincial border with New...

, 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...

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Black was educated at Amherst Academy and purchased the family farm where he was an innovative and progressive manager. He also acquired real estate in his home town demonstrating his commitment to the area. In 1860, he married Eunice, the daughter of William W. Bent, a former Nova Scotia MLA.

Black left farming in the 1880s to become involved in politics. He was first elected to 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...

 for Cumberland County in 1884 in a by-election held after Charles James Townshend

Charles James Townshend

Sir Charles James Townshend was renowned Canadian judge and politician.- Life and work :He was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, son of the Rev...

 was elected to the House of Commons. He was reelected in 1886, then was defeated in 1890. Black was then elected again in 1894, 1897 and 1901. In 1896, he served as a minister without portfolio in the provincial cabinet. He was appointed to the Senate of Canada as a Liberal

Liberal Party of Canada

The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...

 on June 10, 1904. Black married Bethia Clarke in 1905. He died in office.

Two noted artists and authors who respectively lived and owned the "Black House" (also referred to as the "Bank of Nova Scotia House") were Molly Simmons Crtichley and Christian Cardell Corbet

Christian Cardell Corbet

Christian Cardell Corbet is a Canadian sculptor, painter and designer. He co-founded and was first President of the Canadian Portrait Academy.- Quotes :...

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