Four of Canada's Fathers of Confederation were natives of Amherst and area and are commemorated on Amherst's town hall. They are
Edward Chandler,
Robert Barry Dickey,
Jonathan McCully and one time Prime Minister
Sir Charles Tupper. Of the four, Tupper was the only one to serve as Canada's Prime Minister, albeit for only 10 weeks (the shortest term in Canadian history). Tupper also served as Premier of Nova Scotia from 1864 to 1867, the year of Canadian Confederation. The four are honoured with CNHP plaques affixed to the front facade of the Dominion Public Building, now the Amherst Town Hall, in downtown Amherst.
About three blocks south of the Dominion Public Building, on the west side of Victoria Street, is this dead 21 ft tall Elm tree which has been turned into a large wood carving. It contains busts of the four Amherst Fathers of Confederation and also serves as a "Welcome to Downtown Amherst" sign. The carving was done by
Bruce Hebert in 2008.
Edward Barron Chandler
Born in Amherst, Chandler was called to the New Brunswick bar in 1823. He represented Westmorland in the legislature (1827-36), was a Legislative Councillor (1836-78) and a member of the Executive Council almost continuously between 1844 and 1858. A Father of Confederation, he attended the Charlottetown, Quebec and London Conferences. Declining appointment to the Senate in 1867 he served in the first provincial administration after Confederation (1867-9) and played a prominent part in negotiations leading to the building of the Intercolonial Railway. Appointed Lieutenant-Governor in 1878, he died in office.
Robert Barry Dickey
Born in Amherst, educated at Windsor Academy, and called to the bar in 1834, Dickey practiced law in Amherst and sat in the Legislative Council of Nova Scotia (1858-67). A Father of Confederation, he attended both the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences but refused to subscribe to the Quebec Resolutions until more generous financial terms were conceded in 1866. A widely-travelled and successful Amherst businessman he gave general support to the Conservative Party but played a minor political role. He was called to the Senate in 1867. He died in Amherst
Jonathan McCully
Born in Cumberland County, N. S., McCully practiced law in Amherst and was appointed to the Legislative Council of Nova Scotia in 1848 serving as Solicitor General and Government leader in the Council (1860-62). As editor of the Halifax Morning Chronicle and the Novascotian and subsequently of the Unionist and Morning Journal he was strong advocate of Confederation and attended the Charlottetown, Quebec and Westminster Conferences. Called to the Senate in 1867, he resigned in 1870 to become puisne judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, a post he held until his death. He died at Halifax.
Sir Charles Tupper
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Born at Amherst and educated in medicine, Tupper was elected in 1855 to the Nova Scotia Assembly, becoming Premier in 1864. In alliance with John A. Macdonald, he skilfully manoeuvered unwilling Nova Scotians into Confederation. Having held several federal cabinet portfolios he served as High Commissioner to London for eleven years (1884-87 and 1889-96). Returning to politics he entered Bowell's Cabinet in 1896 and soon succeeded him as Prime Minister. When, in that same year, his party was defeated at the polls he became leader of the opposition, a post he held until his personal defeat in 1900. He died in England.
From the Plaques at the Dominion Public Building