John Archibald Sinclair

Last updated
John A. Sinclair
24th Mayor of Halifax
In office
Oct 1873 Oct 1875
Profession
  • Merchant
  • Politician

John Archibald Sinclair (born 1822) was a Canadian politician in Nova Scotia who was elected the 24th mayor of Halifax, from 1873 to 1875.

Contents

Early life

John Archibald Sinclair was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1822. [1]

He was the son of Archibald Sinclair, who was elected president of the North British Society in 1835. [1] His father had emigrated to Canada from Scotland. [2]

He pursued his studies in the City of Halifax and was employed for many years by the firm of Alex McLeod & Co. [1] In the 1840s, before Canadian Confederation, he was noted as a wine merchant. [3]

Political career

City Alderman

After the City of Halifax was incorporated in 1841, he served as a common councillor of Halifax's Ward 3 from 1842 to 1844. [3]

He joined the North British Society in 1845 and subsequently served in multiple roles, including secretary in the early 1850s, senior assistant vice president in 1855, and vice president in 1860. He was elected president of the North British Society at its annual meeting in 1861. [1]

From 1867 to 1869, he sat on the Halifax city council as Ward 1's alderman under Mayor Stephen Tobin. [3] Sinclair soon sought the office of mayor but was defeated by William Dunbar in the Halifax civic elections on October 2, 1871. [4]

Mayor of Halifax

He was elected the 24th mayor of Halifax in 1873 and was re-elected for the 1874 term. [5] He succeeded James Duggan and, after a second term, was followed by Matthew Henry Richey. [3]

During his tenure, he was vice-president of the Point Pleasant Park commission when the first lease agreement was signed by him and president William Young on December 31, 1873. [6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Annals, North British Society, Halifax, Nova Scotia : with portraits and biographical notes, 1768-1903". archive.org. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  2. "Nova Scotia Births, Marriages, and Deaths: Archibald Sinclair death". archives.novascotia.ca. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Elected Officials - City of Halifax" (PDF). cdn.halifax.ca. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  4. "Latest From Halifax". The Globe and Mail. October 4, 1871. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  5. "Re-Elected Mayor With Record Majority". The Halifax Herald. April 25, 1901. p. 8. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  6. "Historical municipal sources on Point Pleasant Park". halifax.ca. May 29, 2024. Retrieved 2026-01-08.