North British Society

John Gillespie, 1st President of North British Society, buried at the Old Burying Ground[1]

The North British Society (also known as "The Scots" and "Scots Club") was founded in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1768, the oldest Scottish heritage society outside Great Britain.[2] North British is an adjective used as an alternative to "Scottish".

History

The Society was established "for the benefit of ourselves and assistance of each other, who may be afflicted with disease or any other casualty or misfortune." Since 1768, the Society has continued to support the Scottish community in Nova Scotia.

The Society met regularly at the Great Pontack (Halifax).

The Society likely commissioned the portrait of Prince Edward by William J. Weaver which now is in Province House (Nova Scotia) (1797). The Society raffled the portrait on the eve of the North British Society's local celebration of the St. Andrew's Day, when the patriotic sentiment was roused by the stunning news of Admiral Nelson's glorious naval victory over Napoleon in the Battle of the Nile.[3]

The Society public activities include commissioning three works for Victoria Park, Halifax: the Robert Burns statue (1919), the Sir Walter Scott bust (1932), and the Sir William Alexander cairn (1957).

Work commissioned

Notable members

Political figure

Doctor

Merchant

Military officer

Other

See also

References

Endnotes

  1. ^ Annals. North British Society
  2. ^ "North British Society". Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  3. ^ Schweizer, Paul D.William J. Weaver (ca. 1759-1817): Halifax Portraitist. Nova Scotia Historical Review. 1993. Vol. 13. No. 1, p. 83
  4. ^ "Biography – MURDOCH, WILLIAM – Volume IX (1861-1870) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography".
  5. ^ Image of Murdoch