Robert Barry Dickey (November 10, 1811 – July 14, 1903) was a participant in the conferences leading to the

Canadian Confederation Canadian Confederation () was the process by which three British North American provinces—the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick—were united into one federation, called the Name of Canada#Adoption of Dominion, Dominion of Ca ...

of 1867 and is therefore considered to be one of the

Fathers of Confederation The Fathers of Confederation are the 36 people who attended at least one of the Charlottetown Conference, Charlottetown Conference of 1864 (23 attendees), the Quebec Conference, 1864, Quebec Conference of 1864 (33 attendees), and the London Conf ...

. Born in Amherst, the son of

Robert McGowan Dickey Robert McGowan Dickie (c. 1784 – January 14, 1854) was a judge and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Amherst township from 1836 to 1843 and Cumberland County from 1843 to 1851 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. His surname a ...

and Eleanor Chapman, he was educated at

Windsor Academy Windsor Academy is a private Christian school in Bibb County, Georgia, United States. The school provides education from preschool to high school, primarily following a liberal arts model with Christian influence. History Windsor Academy was ...

and later studied law with Alexander Stewart. He was called to the Nova Scotia bar in 1834, and to the New Brunswick bar in 1835. He was made a

Queen's Counsel A King's Counsel (Post-nominal letters, post-nominal initials KC) is a senior lawyer appointed by the monarch (or their Viceroy, viceregal representative) of some Commonwealth realms as a "Counsel learned in the law". When the reigning monarc ...

in 1863. He served as both judge and registrar of probate in

Cumberland County Cumberland County may refer to: Australia * Cumberland County, New South Wales * the former name of Cumberland Land District, Tasmania, Australia Canada *Cumberland County, Nova Scotia United Kingdom * Cumberland, historic county *Cumberl ...

for 20 years. In 1844, he married Mary Blair, one of Alexander Stewart's daughters. Dickey was a director of the Nova Scotia Electric Telegraph Company and consular agent for the United States at Amherst. From 1858 to 1867, Dickey was appointed to the Legislative Council of Nova Scotia. In 1867, he was appointed to the

Senate of Canada The Senate of Canada () is the upper house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Monarchy of Canada#Parliament (King-in-Parliament), Crown and the House of Commons of Canada, House of Commons, they compose the Bicameralism, bicameral le ...

representing the

senatorial division Canadian Senate divisions refers to two aspects of the Senate of Canada. First, it refers to the division of Canada into four regional Senate divisions of 24 senators each, as set out in section 22 of the Constitution Act, 1867.The Constitution Ac ...

of Amherst, Nova Scotia. A

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

, he served until his death in 1903. His son

Arthur Rupert Dickey Arthur Rupert Dickey, (August 18, 1854 – July 3, 1900) was a Canadian politician. Born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, the son of Robert Barry Dickey, he was a lawyer before being elected to the House of Commons of Canada in an 1888 by-election ...

served as a member of the House of Commons. His daughter Mary married the English landscape architect Henry Ernest Milner.

References

External links

Library and Archives Canada Profile
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dickey, Robert B. 1811 births 1903 deaths Canadian Presbyterians Canadian senators from Nova Scotia Fathers of Confederation Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942) senators Members of the Legislative Council of Nova Scotia People from Amherst, Nova Scotia Colony of Nova Scotia judges Persons of National Historic Significance (Canada) Canadian King's Counsel 19th-century King's Counsel 19th-century members of the Senate of Canada