Lewis Morris Wilkins (May 24, 1801 – March 15, 1885) was a lawyer, 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 represented Windsor Township from 1833 to 1838 and from 1852 to 1856 and Hants County from 1843 to 1847 in the

Nova Scotia House of Assembly The Nova Scotia House of Assembly (; ), or Legislative Assembly, is the deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Nova Scotia, and together with the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia makes up the Nova Scotia Legislature. The assembly is ...

. Born 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 ...

, (the son of Lewis Morris Wilkins and Sarah Creighton, the sister of

Lewis Morris Lewis Morris (April 8, 1726 – January 22, 1798) was an American Founding Father, landowner, and developer from Morrisania, New York, presently part of Bronx County. He signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence as a delegate to the Conti ...

) and brother Martin Isaac), Wilkins was educated in

Windsor, Nova Scotia Windsor is a community located in Hants County, Nova Scotia, Hants County, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is a service centre for the western part of the county and is situated on Nova Scotia Highway 101, Highway 101. The community has a history d ...

at King's Collegiate School and King's College. He was admitted to the bar in 1823 and set up practice in Windsor. Wilkins married Sarah Rachel Thomas in 1828. In 1838, he was named to the

Legislative Council of Nova Scotia The Legislative Council of Nova Scotia was the upper house of the legislature of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It existed from 1838 to May 31, 1928. From the establishment of responsible government in 1848, members were appointed by the ...

, serving until 1843. Although Wilkins ran as a reformer in 1843, in the assembly he opposed responsible government. He served as a

minister without portfolio A minister without portfolio is a government minister without specific responsibility as head of a government department. The sinecure is particularly common in countries ruled by coalition governments and a cabinet with decision-making authorit ...

in the Nova Scotia Executive Council in 1846. Wilkins was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1847. Elected as a Conservative in 1852, he switched his alliance to

Joseph Howe Joseph Howe (December 13, 1804 – June 1, 1873) was a Nova Scotian journalist, politician, public servant, and poet. Howe is often ranked as one of Nova Scotia's most admired politicians and his considerable skills as a journalist and writer h ...

and the Liberals in 1854. He was named to the Executive Council as provincial secretary in 1854. In 1856, Wilkins was named a puisne judge in the

Supreme Court of Nova Scotia The Nova Scotia Supreme Court is a superior court in the province of Nova Scotia. The Supreme Court consists of 25 judicial seats including the position of Chief Justice and Associate Chief Justice. At any given time there may be one or more addi ...

, serving on the bench until 1876. He died in Windsor at the age of 84.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wilkins, Lewis Morris 1801 births 1885 deaths 19th-century members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly Colony of Nova Scotia judges