Chebucto Grays was a volunteer rifle company that was raised in

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and most populous municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the most populous municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of 2024, it is estimated that the population of the H ...

. In the wake of the

Crimean War The Crimean War was fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, the Second French Empire, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861), Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont fro ...

(1853–1856), there developed a

Volunteer Force The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a Social movement, popular movement throughout the British Empire in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increa ...

in Britain. As part of this movement, in Nova Scotia, thirty-two Volunteer companies were raised in Nova Scotia, with a total strength of 2,341. In Halifax there were eleven companies with a total strength of 868 men. The Chebucto Grays was the most distinguished company, many of the members belonging to

The Halifax Club The Halifax Club is a private club in Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and most populous municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the most populous municipality in Atlantic Can ...

. The Chebucto Grays were one of eight units to serve in the

Halifax Volunteer Battalion The Halifax Volunteer Battalion (1860–1868) included six companies that were raised in present-day Halifax Regional Municipality. The six companies included the Scottish Rifles, Chebucto Grays, Mayflower Rifles, Halifax Rifles, Irish Volunte ...

Notable members

* George Lang *

Brenton Halliburton Sir Brenton Halliburton (December 27, 1774 – July 16, 1860) was the eighth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. He was the son of John Halliburton. He married the daughter of Bishop Charles Inglis, Margaret Inglis, in 179 ...

William Blowers Bliss William Blowers Bliss (August 24, 1795 – March 16, 1874) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Hants County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1830 to 1834. He was born in Saint John, New Brunswick ...

Enos Collins Enos Collins (5 September 1774 – 18 November 1871) was a merchant, shipowner, banker and privateer from Nova Scotia, Canada. He is the founder of the Halifax Banking Company, which eventually was merged with the Canadian Bank of Commerce in ...

James William Johnston James W. Johnston (29 August 1792 – 21 November 1873) was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as Premier of the colony from 1857 to 1860 and again from 1864. He was also ''Government Leader'' prior to the granting of responsible g ...

Mather Byles Almon Mather Byles Almon (1796 – 30 July 1871) was a Canadian banker, politician, and philanthropist. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Almon was a founder of the Bank of Nova Scotia. He was president of the bank from 1837 to 1870. He also helped wit ...

John Fitzwilliam Stairs John Fitzwilliam Stairs, also known as John Fitz William Stairs (January 19, 1848 – September 26, 1904) was an entrepreneur and statesman, born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a member of the prominent Stairs family of merchants and shippers fo ...

Samuel Leonard Shannon Samuel Leonard Shannon, (June 1, 1816 – January 7, 1895) was a Canadian lawyer, judge and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Halifax County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1859 to 1867. Biography He wa ...

* James Forman (merchant) *

William Young (Nova Scotia politician) Sir William Young, (8 September 1799 – 8 May 1887) was a Nova Scotia politician and jurist. Born in Falkirk, the son of John Young and Agnes Renny, Young was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in 1836 as a Reformer (or Lib ...

Philip Carteret Hill Philip Carteret Hill (August 13, 1821 – September 15, 1894) was a Nova Scotia politician. Born in Halifax (former city), Halifax, he was mayor of Halifax from 1861 to 1864 before entering provincial politics as a supporter of Canadian Conf ...

John William Ritchie John William Ritchie (March 26, 1808 – December 13 or 18, 1890) was a Canadian lawyer and politician from Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia who is one of the Fathers of Confederation. Appointed to the Nova Scotia legislative council as Solicitor Ge ...

Gallery

File:LT.-Colonel William Chearnley - Collections of the Nova Scotia Historical Society (1880) (14778342514) (cropped).jpg, Lt. Col William Chearnley - commander of the Chebucto Grays and "Father of the

" Inauguration of the Welsford-Parker Monument, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 17 July 1860 - restored.jpg, The Welsford-Parker Monument Inauguration - George Lang of Chebucto Grays standing far left in front pair Chebucto Grays Full Dress.png, Capt. George Piers, Chebucto Grays (1868) Clifford Kinnear, Chebucto Greys, Halifax, Nova Scotia.png, Clifford Kinnear - won the British National Rifle Association Medal (1861) GhebuctoGreysFigurinesNovaScotia.png, Chebucto Greys Figurines

References

{{reflist Military units and formations of Nova Scotia Infantry units and formations of Canada

Notable members

Gallery

See also

References