List of Nova Scotia by-elections
The list of Nova Scotia by-elections includes every by-election held in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia . By-elections occur whenever there is a vacancy in the House of Assembly , although an imminent general election may allow the vacancy to remain until the dissolution of parliament. Between 1840 and 1927 incumbent members were required to recontest their seats upon being appointed to Cabinet. These Ministerial by-elections were almost always uncontested.
64th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 2021–present
63rd General Assembly of Nova Scotia 2017–2021
62nd General Assembly of Nova Scotia 2013–2017
61st General Assembly of Nova Scotia 2009–2013
60th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 2006–2009
59th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 2003–2006
58th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1999–2003
57th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1998–1999
no by-elections
56th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1993–1998
55th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1988–1993
54th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1984–1988
53rd General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1981–1984
52nd General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1978–1981
51st General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1974–1978
50th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1970–1974
49th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1967–1970
48th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1963–1967
no by-elections
47th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1960–1963
46th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1956–1960
45th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1953–1956
44th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1949–1953
43rd General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1945–1949
no by-elections
42nd General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1941–1945
† Won by acclamation
41st General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1937–1941
† Won by acclamation
40th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1933–1937
39th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1928–1933
38th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1925–1928
† Won by acclamation
37th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1920–1925
† Won by acclamation
36th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1916–1920
† Won by acclamation
35th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1911–1916
† Won by acclamation
34th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1906–1911
By-election
Date
Incumbent
Party
Winner
Party
Cause
Retained
Kings
January 31, 1911†
Brenton Dodge
Liberal
Harry H. Wickwire
Liberal
Death
Yes
Digby
November 15, 1910
Angus Morrison Gidney
Liberal
Allen Ellsworth Wall
Liberal
Appointed Collector of Customs
Yes
Queens
February 16, 1910
Edward Matthew Farrell
Liberal
William Lorimer Hall
Conservative
Appointed to the Senate
No
Lunenburg
November 24, 1909
Henry March
Liberal
Alexander Kenneth Maclean
Liberal
Resignation
Yes
Hants
November 24, 1909
Charles Smith Wilcox
Conservative
Albert Parsons
Conservative
Death
Yes
Cumberland
November 24, 1909
William Thomas Pipes
Liberal
Joshua H. Livingston
Liberal
Death
Yes
Victoria
November 17, 1909†
John Gillis Morrison
Liberal
Angus A. Buchanan
Liberal
Resignation
Yes
Pictou
February 16, 1909
Charles Elliott Tanner
Conservative
Robert Hugh MacKay
Liberal
Resignation to contest the 1908 Federal Election
No
Hants
July 17, 1907
Arthur Drysdale
Liberal
James O'Brien
Liberal
Appointed a judge
Yes
Antigonish
April 9, 1907†
Christopher P. Chisholm
Liberal
Christopher P. Chisholm
Liberal
Sought re-election upon appointment as Commissioner of Public Works and Mines
Yes
Digby
February 19, 1907†
Ambrose H. Comeau
Liberal
Joseph Willie Comeau
Liberal
Appointed to the Senate
Yes
† Won by acclamation
33rd General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1901–1906
By-election
Date
Incumbent
Party
Winner
Party
Cause
Retained
Annapolis
March 6, 1906
James Wilberforce Longley
Liberal
Orlando Daniels
Liberal
Appointed a judge
Yes
Richmond
December 15, 1904
Duncan Finlayson
Liberal
Charles P. Bissett
Liberal
Resignation to contest the 1904 Federal Election
Yes
Pictou
December 15, 1904
Edward Mortimer Macdonald
Liberal
Robert M. McGregor
Liberal
Resignation to contest the 1904 Federal Election
Yes
Cumberland
December 15, 1904
Thomas Reuben Black
Liberal
Elisha B. Paul
Liberal
Appointed to the Senate
Yes
Colchester
December 15, 1904
Frederick Andrew Laurence
Liberal
Henry T. Laurence
Liberal
Resignation to contest the 1904 Federal Election
Yes
Cape Breton
December 15, 1904
Daniel Duncan McKenzie
Liberal
Arthur Samuel Kendall
Liberal
Resignation to contest the 1904 Federal Election
Yes
Lunenburg
December 8, 1904†
Alexander Kenneth Maclean
Liberal
Charles Uniacke Mader
Liberal
Resignation to contest the 1904 Federal Election
Yes
Guysborough
December 8, 1904†
John Howard Sinclair
Liberal
James F. Ellis
Liberal
Resignation to contest the 1904 Federal Election
Yes
Shelburne
January 12, 1904
Thomas Johnston
Liberal
George A. Cox
Liberal
Death
Yes
Yarmouth
January 5, 1904†
Augustus Stoneman
Liberal
George P. Sanderson
Liberal
Resignation to be appointed to the Legislative Council
Yes
Antigonish
January 22, 1903†
Angus McGillivray
Liberal
Fred Robert Trotter
Liberal
Appointed a judge
Yes
Shelburne
December 10, 1902
Thomas Robertson
Liberal
Moses H. Nickerson
Liberal
Death
Yes
Lunenburg
December 3, 1902†
Edward Doran Davison
Liberal
John Drew Sperry
Liberal
Death
Yes
† Won by acclamation
32nd General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1897–1901
† Won by acclamation
31st General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1894–1897
By-election
Date
Incumbent
Party
Winner
Party
Cause
Retained
Victoria
August 15, 1896†
John Lemuel Bethune
Conservative
George Henry Murray
Liberal
Resignation to contest the 1896 Federal Election
No
Queens
August 15, 1896†
Albert M. Hemeon
Liberal
Edward Matthew Farrell
Liberal
Death
Yes
Lunenburg
August 15, 1896
John Drew Sperry
Liberal
Allan Moreash
Liberal
Resignation to contest the 1896 Federal Election
Yes
Halifax
August 15, 1896†
William Stevens Fielding
Liberal
William Bernard Wallace
Liberal
Resignation to contest a federal by-election
Yes
Colchester
August 15, 1896
Wilbert David Dimock
Conservative
Firman McClure
Liberal
Resignation to contest the 1896 Federal Election
No
Annapolis
August 15, 1896†
James Wilberforce Longley
Liberal
James Wilberforce Longley
Liberal
Resignation to contest the 1896 Federal Election
Yes
Digby
September 28, 1895
Eliakim Tupper
Liberal
Angus Morrison Gidney
Liberal
Death
Yes
Antigonish
June 13, 1895
Colin Francis McIsaac
Liberal
Angus McGillivray
Liberal
Resignation to contest a federal by-election
Yes
Colchester
January 30, 1895†
Wilbert David Dimock
Conservative
Wilbert David Dimock
Conservative
Resignation to recontest due to election petition
Yes
Richmond
December 27, 1894
John Morrison
Conservative
Joseph Matheson
Liberal
Void Election
No
† Won by acclamation
30th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1890–1894
29th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1886–1890
† Won by acclamation
28th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1882–1886
† Won by acclamation
27th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1878–1882
† Won by acclamation
26th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1874–1878
† Won by acclamation
25th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1871–1874
By-election
Date
Incumbent
Party
Winner
Party
Cause
Retained
Hants
March 10, 1874
William McDougall
Conservative
Henry Yeomans
Liberal
Resignation
No
Cape Breton
March 10, 1874†
Alonza J. White
Liberal
Alonza J. White
Liberal
Sought re-election upon appointment as Commissioner of Crown Lands
Yes
Richmond
March 4, 1874
Edmund Power Flynn
Liberal
Charles Boudroit
Liberal
Resignation to contest the 1874 Federal Election
Yes
Hants
March 4, 1874
William Henry Allison
Conservative
Thomas Barlow Smith
Liberal
Resignation to contest the 1874 Federal Election
No
Guysborough
March 4, 1874
John Angus Kirk
Liberal
Charles M. Franchville
Liberal
Resignation to contest the 1874 Federal Election
Yes
Victoria
October 23, 1873
Charles James Campbell
Conservative
David McCurdy
Liberal
Appointed to the Legislative Council
No
Halifax
February 18, 1873
William Garvie
Liberal
John Taylor
Liberal
Death
Yes
Antigonish
February 11, 1873†
Daniel MacDonald
Liberal
Daniel MacDonald
Liberal
Sought re-election upon appointment as Commissioner of Public Works and Mines
Yes
Yarmouth
October 16, 1872
William H. Townsend
Liberal
John K. Ryerson
Liberal
Resignation
Yes
Pictou
October 16, 1872
James McDonald
Conservative
Alexander MacKay
Conservative
Resignation to contest the 1872 Federal Election
Yes
Inverness
October 16, 1872
Samuel McDonnell
Conservative
Duncan J. Campbell
Conservative
Resignation to contest the 1872 Federal Election
Yes
† Won by acclamation
24th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1867–1871
† Won by acclamation
23rd General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1863–1867
22nd General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1859–1863
[ 1]
20th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1855–1859
By-election
Date
Incumbent
Party
Winner
Party
Cause
Retained
Hants County
July 29, 1858
Ichabod Dimock
Liberal
Bennett Smith
Conservative
Death
No
Colchester County
May 11, 1858
Gloud Wilson McLelan
Liberal
Archibald McLelan
Liberal
Death
Yes
Annapolis Township
February 4, 1858
Alfred Whitman
Conservative
Moses Shaw
Conservative
Appointed to the Legislative Council
Yes
Granville Township
January 26, 1858
Stephen S. Thorne
Conservative
Timothy Dwight Ruggles
Conservative
Appointed Chairman of the Board of Works
Yes
Guysborough County
March 30, 1857
John Joseph Marshall
Conservative
John Joseph Marshall
Conservative
Sought re-election upon appointment as Financial Secretary
Yes
Cumberland County
March 28, 1857
Charles Tupper
Conservative
Charles Tupper
Conservative
Sought re-election upon appointment as Provincial Secretary
Yes
Annapolis County
March 28, 1857
James William Johnston
Conservative
James William Johnston
Conservative
Sought re-election upon appointment as Premier and Attorney General
Yes
Pictou Township
March 26, 1857
Martin Isaac Wilkins
Conservative
Martin Isaac Wilkins
Conservative
Sought re-election upon appointment as Solicitor General
Yes
Windsor Township
September 9, 1856
Lewis Morris Wilkins
Liberal
Joseph Howe
Liberal
Appointed a judge
Yes
Sydney County
September 9, 1856
William Alexander Henry
Liberal
William Alexander Henry
Liberal
Sought re-election upon appointment as Provincial Secretary
Yes
Colchester County
September 9, 1856
Adams George Archibald
Liberal
Adams George Archibald
Liberal
Sought re-election upon appointment as Solicitor General
Yes
Cape Breton County
July 19, 1856
James McLeod
Liberal
Thomas Caldwell
Liberal
Death
Yes
Cornwallis Township
March 12, 1856
Samuel Chipman
Liberal
Samuel Chipman
Liberal
Sought re-election upon appointment as Financial Secretary
Yes
19th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1851–1855
18th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1847–1851
17th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1843–1847
16th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1840–1843
15th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1836–1840
14th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1830–1836
By-election
Date
Incumbent
Winner
Cause
Onslow Township
December 21, 1835
Robert Dickson
John Crowe
Death
Halifax Township
December 16, 1835
Charles Rufus Fairbanks
Hugh Bell
Appointed Master of the Rolls
Yarmouth Township
December 10, 1835
Samuel Sheldon Poole
Reuben Clements
Death
Hants County
June 2, 1834
William Blowers Bliss
William O'Brien
Appointed a judge
Windsor Township
February 26, 1833
David Dill
Joseph Dill
Void Election (David Dill lost at Sea)
Joseph Dill
Lewis Morris Wilkins
By-election results reversed April 3, 1833
Shelburne County
November 26, 1832
John Forman
Abraham Lent
Death
Sydney Township
November 17, 1832
N/A
Edmund Murray Dodd
New Seat created
Cape Breton County
November 12, 1832
N/A
William Young
Cape Breton County given a third seat
William Young
Richard Smith
By-election results reversed April 10, 1833
Arichat Township
November 1832
N/A
Laurence O'Connor Doyle
New Seat created
Granville Township
November 16, 1831
Timothy Ruggles
James Delap
Death
Cape Breton County
1831
James Boyle Uniacke
James Boyle Uniacke
Void Election
13th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1826–1830
12th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1820–1826
By-election
Date
Incumbent
Winner
Cause
Falmouth Township
January 26, 1826
William Mayhew Young
William Shey
Death
Sydney County
May 3, 1825
John Young
John Young
Previous by-election declared void
Halifax County
February 28, 1825
Simon Bradstreet Robie
Lawrence Hartshorne, Jr.
Appointed to the Nova Scotia Council
Shelburne Township
August 26, 1824
Jared Ingersol Chipman
Thomas Caldwell
Appointed a judge
Sydney County
July 18, 1824
John George Marshall
John Young
Appointed a judge
Annapolis County
July 14, 1824
Thomas Ritchie
Abraham Gesner
Appointed a judge
Hants County
July 2, 1824
William Hersey Otis Haliburton
Benjamin DeWolf
Appointed a judge
Halifax Township
September 8, 1823
George Grassie
Charles Rufus Fairbanks
Death
Cumberland County
February 5, 1821
George Oxley
Robert Blair
Death
Horton Township
January 2, 1821
Jonathan Crane
Sherman Denison
Death
11th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1818–1820
10th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1811–1818
9th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1806–1811
8th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1799–1806
7th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1793–1799
6th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1785–1793
5th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1770–1785
By-election
Date
Incumbent
Winner
Cause
Queens County
1784
Nathaniel Freeman
Benajah Collins
Non-attendance
Newport Township
1784
Isaac Deschamps
Joshua Sanford
Appointed to the Council
Kings County
1784
Winckworth Tonge
Jonathan Crane
Non-attendance
Halifax County
1784
William Nesbitt
William Abbott
Resigned and was granted a pension
Annapolis Township
1784
Phineas Lovett, Jr.
Stephen De Lancey
Non-attendance
Sunbury County
1783
James Simonds
William Davidson
Non-attendance
Sackville Township
1783
Robert Foster
Richard John Uniacke
Absconded from province
Onslow Township
1783
Charles Dickson
Charles Dickson
Refused to take the Oath of Allegiance
Hants County
1783
New Seat
George Brightman
Hants County created
Benjamin DeWolf
Lunenburg Township
1783
Philip Augustus Knaut
Casper Wollenhaupt
Death
Cumberland Township
1783
Hezekiah King
Martin Gay
Non-attendance
Annapolis County
1783
Henry Evans
John Ritchie
Non-attendance (Died the same year)
Amherst Township
1783
New Seat
William Freeman
Amherst Township enfranchised
Windsor Township
1782
New Seat
George Deschamps
Windsor Township enfranchised
Halifax Township
February 28, 1782
Thomas Bridge
Benjamin Green, Jr.
Emigrated
Truro Township
1781
Samuel Archibald
John Harris
Refused to take Oath of Allegiance
Kings County
1780
Henry Denny Denson
John Whidden
Death
Queens County
April 20, 1780
William Smith
Nathaniel Freeman
Death
Londonderry Township
1779
John Morrison
John Cunningham
Absconded and left the province
Halifax County
1779
James Browne
John George Pyke
Emigrated
Yarmouth Township
April 12, 1779
James Monk
Richard Cunningham
Non-attendance, left for Quebec
Horton Township
January 28, 1779
Joseph Pierce
Thomas Caldwell
Resignation due to age and infirmities
Halifax County
1778
William Howard South
James Browne
Death
Sackville Township
August 22, 1776
Samuel Rogers
Robert Foster
Non-attendance
Cumberland Township
August 21, 1776
John Allan
Hezekiah King
Non-attendance
Cumberland County
August 20, 1776
William Scurr
Thomas Dixson
Non-attendance
Annapolis County
August 20, 1776
John Hall
Henry Evans
Non-attendance
Horton Township
August 19, 1776
Charles Dickson
Joseph Pierce
Non-attendance due to illness
Cornwallis Township
August 14, 1776
Samuel Willoughby
John Chipman
Non-attendance
Onslow Township
August 6, 1776
Joshua Lamb
Charles Dickson
Non-attendance
Halifax County
1776
Robert Campbell
James Brenton
Death
Halifax Township
April 20, 1776
John Day
Joseph Fairbanks
Death (Lost at sea)
Onslow Township
February 17, 1776
Richard Upham
Joshua Lamb
Death
Yarmouth Township
1775
John Crawley
James Monk
Non-attendance
Truro Township
1775
William Fisher
Samuel Archibald
Non-attendance
Onslow Township
1775
Joshua Lamb
Richard Upham
Non-attendance
Falmouth Township
1775
Edward York
Jeremiah Northup
Non-attendance
Cumberland Township
1775
Jonathan Eddy
John Allan
Non-attendance, joined the American Revolutionaries
Cumberland County
1775
Jotham Gay
Jotham Gay
Non-attendance
John Huston
William Scurr
Annapolis Township
1775
Obadiah Wheelock
Phineas Lovett, Jr.
Non-attendance
Annapolis County
1775
Phineas Lovett, Sr.
John Hall
Non-attendance
Joseph Patten
William Shaw
Liverpool Township
July 3, 1775
Seth Harding
Thomas Cochran
Non-attendance
Lunenburg County
1775
John Creighton
John Newton
Appointed to the Council
Halifax Township
August 25, 1774
Charles Procter
John Day
Death
Sackville Township
November 6, 1773
Robert Foster
Samuel Rogers
Non-attendance
Lunenburg County
November 5, 1773
Archibald Hinshelwood
Otto William Schwartz
Death
Halifax County
1773
John Butler
John Philipps
Appointed to the Council
Liverpool Township
July 2, 1773
Samuel Doggett
Seth Harding
Non-attendance, Went to the West Indies
Sunbury County
June 28, 1773
Israel Perley
James Simonds
Non-attendance
Londonderry Township
February 20, 1773
John Morrison
John Morrison
Non-attendance
Truro Township
February 4, 1773
William Fisher
William Fisher
Non-attendance
Yarmouth Township
December 3, 1772
Malachy Salter
John Crawley
Void Election
Halifax County
1772
John Newton
William Howard South
Non-attendance
Granville Township
1772
John Harris
Christopher Prince
Death
Barrington Township
1772
Richard Gibbons
John Fillis
Void Election
Cumberland County
September 23, 1772
Joshua Winslow
Jotham Gay
Non-attendance
Liverpool Township
May 26, 1772
John Doggett
Samuel Doggett
Death
Falmouth Township
1771
Isaac Deschamps
Edward York
Double election, chose to sit for Newport Township
4th General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1765–1770
By-election
Date
Incumbent
Winner
Cause
Newport Township
October 7, 1769
John Day
Henry Denny Denson
Apparently left for Philadelphia.
Halifax County
1768
Benjamin Gerrish
John Fillis
Appointed to the Council
Granville Township
1768
Henry Munroe
John Hicks
Resignation
Sunbury County
September 20, 1768
Beamsley Perkins Glasier
Richard Shore
Did not take their seats
Thomas Falconer
Phineas Nevers
Liverpool Township
August 17, 1768
Elisha Freeman
Ephraim Dean
Resignation due to old age
Queens County
August 17, 1768
Simeon Perkins
John Doggett
Apparently unseated for lack of attendance
Horton Township
1767
William Welch
Charles Dickson
Seat Vacated
Londonderry Township
October 26, 1767
New Seat
Alexander McNutt
Londonderry Township enfranchised
Yarmouth Township
1766
New Seat
Malachy Salter
Yarmouth Township enfranchised
Sackville Township
1766
New Seat
Benjamin Mason
Sackville Township enfranchised
Truro Township
May 24, 1766
Charles Morris (1731–1802)
David Archibald
Chose to sit for Kings County
Barrington Township
March 24, 1766
New Seat
Francis White
Barrington Township enfranchised
Breton County
March 21, 1766
New Seat
Gregory Townshend
Breton County created. Results voided due to insufficient freeholders June 14, 1766
John Grant
Sunbury County
August 1, 1765
New Seat
Beamsley Perkins Glasier
Sunbury County created.
Thomas Falconer
3rd General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1761–1765
2nd General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1759–1760
no by-elections
1st General Assembly of Nova Scotia 1758–1759
See also
Notes
^ There was no 21st General Assembly. According to the 1983 revised edition of The Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia 1758 -1983 : a biographical directory :"It should be pointed out, however, that an error in numbering the Journals [of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly] occurred in 1860, when the 21st Assembly was mistakenly referred to as the 22nd Assembly. Although the error was corrected in 1864, it reappeared the following year and has since been perpetuated. Consequently, to be strictly accurate, the present Assembly [convened in 1982] should be regarded as the 52nd, rather than the 53rd Assembly of the Province."
References
Government of Nova Scotia. "Election Summary From 1867 to 2011" (PDF) . Elections Statistics . Elections Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2015-03-15 .
The Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia 1758 -1983 : a biographical directory
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