Benjamin Wier (August 9, 1805 – April 14, 1868) was a Canadian businessman and politician.

Early life

He was born in Newport Township, Hants County, Nova Scotia, the son of Benjamin Weir. He married Phoebe Wier, a cousin, and opened a store near Windsor. He moved to Halifax in 1830.

Career

He established himself in the wholesale trade, operating a fleet of schooners that traded goods between Nova Scotia and New England. Prior to Canadian Confederation in 1867, Wier represented Halifax township from 1851 to 1859 and Lunenburg County from 1859 to 1863 in the colonial Nova Scotia House of Assembly. During that period, he served in the province's Executive Council from 1855 to 1856 and from 1859 to 1863. After losing his seat in the Nova Scotia election of 1863, he turned his attention to his many business interests. He was president of the Dartmouth Marine Railway and of the Salt Works Company. Weir was also a director of the People's Bank, the Union Marine Insurance Company, the Sydney Marine Railway and the Nova Scotian Telegraph Company. He also served as an alderman for the city of Halifax. Following Confederation, he was appointed to the

Senate of Canada The Senate of Canada (french: region=CA, Sénat du Canada) is the upper house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Crown and the House of Commons, they comprise the bicameral legislature of Canada. The Senate is modelled after the B ...

on October 23, 1867 by royal proclamation. He represented the senatorial division of Nova Scotia until his death in

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

at the age of 62.

References

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''The Canadian parliamentary companion'', HJ Morgan (1867)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wier, Benjamin 1805 births 1868 deaths Nova Scotia pre-Confederation MLAs Canadian senators from Nova Scotia Canadian people of Scottish descent People from Hants County, Nova Scotia Pre-Confederation Canadian businesspeople Colony of Nova Scotia people Members of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia