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"Facts are stranger than fiction" – Thomas Chandler Haliburton
Thomas
Chandler Haliburton – Chronology
by Garth Vaughan 1796
– Born at home Dec.17, on Water Street, Windsor, N.S.
– Site: Presently occupied
by AVR Studio. – Father: Hon. William Haliburton, a Nova Scotia Tory Judge
and M.L.A.
– Mother: Lucy, who died when Tom was one year of age. Devoted
step-mother Susanna raised Tom. 1810 – Known as "Tom", an only
child, he graduated from King’s Collegiate Preparatory School at age 14, and continued
his education at King’s College. Windsor’s population was then 1500 and it was
known as "the most aristocratic society outside of England", Windsor
was the first centre of culture and learning in Canada. 1815 – Acquired
B.A. at age 18, King’s College, Windsor. 1816 – Married Louisa Neville –
of a family of eleven, three sons and five daughters survived [Three sons died
at infancy]. 1819 – Finished Studies at King’s College, Windsor, age 23.
Soon after became involved in the Gypsum trade. Owned, leased and operated several
gypsum quarries about Hants County until 1856. Involved in the quarrying and exporting
of gypsum from Windsor and Newport Landing by ship to New England. Back
to top of page 1820 – Articled with father, then – Admitted to the Bar
– Practiced Law in Windsor briefly, and then in Annapolis until 1830. 1823
– Published A General Description of Nova Scotia – a handbook of history of Nova
Scotia for immigrants – prelude to 1829 Historical Account of N.S. 1826
– Became Tory M.L.A. of N.S. for Annapolis – was noted for oratory and wit.- MLA
for three years. 1826 – One of his successes as M.L.A. was to remove "The
Test Oath", following which Catholics could hold public office in N.S. 1829
– Published An Historical and Statistical Account of Nova Scotia, the first history
of Nova Scotia at age 33 1829 – Appointed judge and returned to Windsor
to live. Back to top of page Note:
1850-1890 – Windsor was Canada’s third largest sea port (2nd to Montreal and St.
John). 1830 – 56 – Was a landlord who owned several rental properties in
Windsor. 1832 – He and wife Louisa then had eight children living – five
daughters and three sons 1832 – President of Windsor Agricultural Society
– the fields of "Clifton Grove" bore abundant crops of vegetables and
fruit. 1832 – Built horse-drawn railway from Clifton to the Avon River waterfront.
He exported 132,000 tons in 1832 – Horse drawn carts on tramway down Park St [now
Clifton Ave.] and along Albert St. to John Clarke’s Wharf at present site of N.S.L.C.
He built six small waterfront gypsum warehouses. It was Nova Scotia’s second mining
railway, the first being in Pictou County for coal. 1832 – Donated land
and money for a church
1833 – 4th of Aug. Haliburton’s long time friend
and former professor William Cochran
died at age 77. 1833-36 – Built his home "Clifton",
a wooden villa with spectacular grounds and gardens, named after his wife’s home
town in England. 1833-36 – He designed and built a windmill by himself at
Clifton. 1833-36 – Horticultural expert – planted a variety of trees and
grew flowers and vegetables at Clifton. 1834 – Sold the Acadian Stone House
and Henley Farm at Newport Landing, where he had quarried gypsum. [Now owned by
Mr.and Mrs. Sherman Hines]. Back
to top of page 1835 – Created Sam Slick a fictional Yankee Clock Peddler,
a humorous character who could "speak for" Haliburton. Published "Recollections
of Nova Scotia", featuring Sam Slick, in "the Novascotian" a newspaper
published by Joseph Howe. 1836 – "Recollections of Nova Scotia"
Published as "The Clockmaker: The Sayings and Doings of Sam Slick" 1836
– Through Sam Slick, Haliburton became the first Canadian author to achieve international
acclaim. In so doing he became known as "the Father of American Humor". 1836
– Haliburton named Nova Scotians "Bluenoses" 1836 – Haliburton’s
"The Clockmaker" was published in England.
– He toured England
and Europe as a literary celebrity, accompanied by Joseph Howe. 1836 –
Influenced establishment of trans-Atlantic Cunard Steamship Line 1836 –
Influenced Joseph Howe to build Nova Scotia’s longest covered bridge across the
Avon River, which made Windsor "The Gateway to the Valley". 1836-1856
– He lived at Clifton, writing stories which he dictated to secretaries hired
from Windsor. 1838 – Wrote the second series of The Clockmaker. 1839
– Visited England. 1840 – In N.S., he was appointed Canada’s youngest Supreme
Court Judge – which was an unpopular political appointment at the time. Back
to top of page 1841 – Wife Louisa died. 1843 – Returned to England
for a visit. 1843 – Wrote The Attaché; Or, Sam Slick in England
published in England in 2 vols. 1844 – Published The Attaché;
Or, Sam Slick in England – Second Series 1847 – Haliburton’s eldest
son died.
1849 – Wrote The Old Judge (or, Life in a Colony). 1856
– Resigned position as judge. 1856 – Wrote Traits of American Humor, Sam
Slick’s Wise Saws. 1856 – Sold Clifton to James Pellow – Sailed to England
for retirement. Married Sarah Harriet Williams and lived at Gordon House on Thames. 1857
– Influenced Premier Joseph Howe to build Nova Scotia’s first public railway,
the Nova Scotia Railway, commonly known as the Windsor-Halifax Railway 1858
– Received honorary degree from Oxford – very popular in England as writer and
humorist. – Elected to British House of Commons. 1862 – Nova Scotia Fruit
Growers impressed London – R.G. Haliburton, son of T.C.H. organized the show. 1865
– Became ill and died in August – buried at Isleworth, Middlesex, England. Back
to top of page Haliburton’s most famous books are The Clockmaker, The
Attaché (or: Sam Slick In England – four vols.), and The Old Judge. Through
his writings he told that boys, as early as 1800, at King’s College School were
playing Hurley on Ice and games at base in the fields. Hurley on Ice developed
into Ice Hockey in Nova Scotia, and games at base in the fields developed into
Baseball in New York State. Windsor, N.S., the Birthplace of Hockey, and
Cooperstown, New York, the Home of Baseball and the Baseball Hall of Fame, became
united as twin towns on August 19, 1996. Because of Sam Slick’s wise sayings
(Wise-Saws), to this day Haliburton is America’s most frequently quoted author.
See Also – T.C. Haliburton
Bibliography Back
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