Hon. Henry Robert EMMERSON
Few men during the generation that is passed occupied
a more conspicuous place in the public eye than the late Hon. Henry
Robert EMMERSON, lawyer and statesman, whose earthly career has
been ended by the fate that awaits all mankind, but whose influence
still pervades the lives of men, the good which he did having been too
far-reaching to be measured in metes and bounds. Success is methodical
and consecutive, and though the rise of Mr. EMMERSON may have
seemed so rapid as to be spectacular, it will be found that his success
was attained by the same normal methods and means--determined application
of mental and physical resources along a rightly defined line.
Mr. EMMERSON, who was descended from United Empire Loyalist stock,
was the son of Rev. R. H. E. and Augusta (READ) EMMERSON,
the father a prominent minister in the Baptist church for many years.
Our subject was born at Maugerville, New Brunswick, September 25, 1853,
and his death occurred July 9, 1914. He was educated in Amherst Academy,
Mt. Allison Academy, St. Joseph's College, Memramcook, New Brunswick,
and Acadia College. He received the degree of Master of Arts in 1897,
and the honorary degree of Doctor of Common Laws in 1904. He attended
Boston University, where he was prize essayist, and received the degree
of Bachelor of Laws in 1877, and the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws
from the University of New Brunswick in 1900.
In June, 1878, he was united in marriage with Emily C. RECORD,
a daughter of C. B. RECORD, iron founder of Moncton, New Brunswick.
He was admitted to the bar in 1878, and was made King's counsel in 1899.
He successfully practiced his profession at Dorchester, where he was
long one of the leaders of the bar. He was solicitor and manager for
the branch at Dorchester of the Merchants Bank of Halifax, from 1882
to 1887. He was for some time president of the New Brunswick Petroleum
Company, also president of the Acadia Coal & Coke Company, and a
director in the Record Foundry and Machine Company. He was a governor
of Acadia University.
Politically, Mr. EMMERSON was a Liberal. He was for some time
vice-president for New Brunswick of the Maritime Liberal Association.
He unsuccessfully contested Westmoreland County for the House of Commons
in 1887. He sat for Albert County (Local) from 1888 to 1890, and was
legislative councillor for New Brunswick from 1891 to 1892, inclusive;
and again represented Albert County (Local) from 1892 to 1900. He was
minister of Public Works for New Brunswick from 1892 to 1900, and he
was Premier and Attorney-General of that Province from 1897 to 1900.
From that date until his death he sat for Westmoreland County in the
House of Commons. He was minister of Railways and Canals during the
Laurier addministration, from 1904 to 1907. He favored the utmost possible
freedom of trade on the lines of British free trade. He was generally
interested in the growth of wheat and in promoting the prospecting and
development of oil properties in New Brunswick. He belonged to the Baptist
church, was president of the Maritime Baptist convention in 1899, and
president of the Baptist Congress of Canada in 1900. He is author of
the work entitled, "The Legal Condition of Married Women,"
and other pamphlets and lectures. He was a member of the Rideau Club
of Ottawa. He was an able speaker and powerful in debate. As a public
servant he performed his duties ably and conscientiously and won the
admiration of all, irrespective of party alignment. He was a born leader
of men, and was great as a business man, a statesman and churchman.
His only son, Henry R. EMMERSON, Jr., resides in Amherst, Nova
Scotia.