Benjamin Green (July 1, 1713 – October 14, 1772) was a merchant, judge and political figure in

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...

. He served as administrator for Nova Scotia in 1766 and from 1771 to 1772.

Early life

He was born in Salem Village (later

Danvers, Massachusetts Danvers is a New England town, town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, located on the Danvers River near the northeastern coast of Massachusetts. The suburb is a fairly short ride from Boston and is also in close proximity to the beach ...

), the son of the Reverend Joseph Green and Elizabeth Gerrish, and entered business with his brothers in

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

. In 1737, he married Margaret Pierce.

Career

He was secretary to

William Pepperrell Sir William Pepperrell, 1st Baronet (27 June 1696 – 6 July 1759) was an American merchant and soldier in Province of Massachusetts Bay, colonial Massachusetts. He is widely remembered for organizing, financing, and leading the Siege ...

, who led the attack against

Louisbourg Louisbourg is an unincorporated community and former town in Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. History The harbour had been used by European mariners since at least the 1590s, when it was known as English Port and Havre à l'An ...

in 1745, and served as treasurer for the forces from

New England New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the ...

and secretary for the council that administered Louisbourg after its capture. In 1749, he went to Halifax, where he was named to

Edward Cornwallis Edward Cornwallis ( – 14 January 1776) was a British career military officer and member of the aristocratic Cornwallis family, who reached the rank of Lieutenant General. After Cornwallis fought in Scotland, putting down the Jacobite r ...

's Nova Scotia Council and also served as naval officer. (Greene named his son Edward Cornwallis in honour of the governor.) Green was also judge in the

vice admiralty court Vice admiralty courts were juryless courts located in British colonies that were granted jurisdiction over local legal matters related to maritime activities, such as disputes between merchants and seamen. American Colonies American maritime act ...

; he resigned in 1753. In 1750, he became secretary to the Council and provincial treasurer. Green was named a justice of the peace in 1760. While in

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

to assist in auditing the accounts of Peregrine Thomas Hopson, he had to defend himself against charges of assigning contracts to

Malachy Salter Malachy Salter (February 28, 1715 – January 13, 1781) was an American-born merchant and politician who sat in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1759 to 1772. Business career He operated a successful Boston distillery, along with his H ...

in exchange for a share in the profits. He was reprimanded but allowed to retain his posts. During his term as administrator in 1766, he was criticized by the provincial assembly for not following the correct procedures for dealing with the provincial finances. Green resigned his post as provincial treasurer in 1768, citing poor health.

Death and Family

He died in Halifax at the age of 59 and is buried in the

Old Burying Ground (Halifax, Nova Scotia) The Old Burying Ground (also known as St. Paul's Church (Halifax), St. Paul's Church Cemetery) is a historic cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located at the intersection of Barrington Street and Spring Garden Road in Downtown Halif ...

. An audit of the provincial accounts following his death found them deficient. Two of his daughters married the Newton brothers: John Newton (Nova Scotia politician) and Henry Newton (politician).

Legacy

* namesake of Green Street, Halifax * Green kept a Journal for William Pepperrell of the Siege of Louisburg (1744): * Great grandfather of Major Parker, of the

Sebastopol Monument The Sebastopol Monument (also known as the Crimean War monument and the Welsford-Parker Monument) is a triumphal arch that is located in the Old Burial Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The arch commemorates the Siege of Sevastopol (1854� ...

Links

A sermon, occasioned by the death of Mrs. Margaret Green; consort of the late Honourable Benjamin Green, esq; delivered at Halifax, in the province of Nova-Scotia, February 1st, 1778 (Halifax, [1778?])

References