William Hallett Ray

William Hallett Ray
William Hallett Ray
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Annapolis
In office
1867–1878
Preceded byElectoral district established
Succeeded byAvard Longley
In office
1882–1887
Preceded byAvard Longley
Succeeded byJohn B. Mills
Personal details
BornMay 25, 1825
DiedMay 7, 1909(1909-05-07) (aged 83)
Clementsport, Nova Scotia, Canada
NationalityCanadian
PartyAnti-Confederate (September 20, 1867-January 29, 1869), Liberal (January 30, 1869-)
Occupationfarmer, merchant

William Hallett Ray (May 25, 1825 – May 7, 1909) was a Canadian politician, farmer, and merchant.

Born in Clementsport, Annapolis Valley,[1] where he worked as a farmer and a merchant, Ray was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Annapolis County in an 1864 by-election held after James William Johnston was named to the bench.[2] He was first elected to represent the Annapolis electoral district in the House of Commons of Canada on September 20, 1867, and remained in office until his defeat in September 1878. Ray was re-elected for one more term in the June 1882 elections. He was a member of the Anti-Confederation Party until January 1869, when he left it for the Liberal Party.[1] In 1887, Ray was named to the Legislative Council of Nova Scotia.[2]

He married Henrietta Ditmars in 1848. Ray also served as lieutenant-colonel in the county militia.[2]

He died in Clementsport at the age of 83.[3]

Election results

1867 Canadian federal election: Annapolis
Party Candidate Votes %
Anti-Confederation William Hallett Ray 1,171 53.54
Conservative Avard Longley 1,016 46.46
Total valid votes 2,187
This electoral district was created by the British North America Act, 1867 from the colonial Province of Nova Scotia'a Annapolis electoral district. Both Avard Longley and William Hallett Ray were incumbents, along with George Whitman.
Source: Library of Parliament[4][5]
1872 Canadian federal election: Annapolis
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Hallett Ray 1,129 52.56 -0.98
Conservative Avard Longley 1,019 47.44 +0.98
Total valid votes 2,148
Source: Library of Parliament[6][7]
1874 Canadian federal election: Annapolis
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Hallett Ray 878 79.96 +27.40
Unknown T.W. Chesley 220 20.04
Total valid votes 1,098
Source: Library of Parliament[8][9][10]
1878 Canadian federal election: Annapolis
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Avard Longley 1,301 50.06
Liberal William Hallett Ray 1,298 49.94 -30.02
Total valid votes 2,599
Source: Library of Parliament[11][12][13]
1882 Canadian federal election: Annapolis
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Hallett Ray 1,430 51.11 +1.17
Unknown Robert E. FitzRandolph 1,368 48.89
Total valid votes 2,798
Source: Library of Parliament[14]
1887 Canadian federal election: Annapolis
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Burpee Mills 1,758 50.40
Liberal William Hallett Ray 1,730 49.60 -1.51
Total valid votes 3,488
Source: Library of Parliament[15][16]

References

  1. ^ a b William Hallett Ray – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. ^ a b c Gemmill, J.A., ed. (1897). The Canadian Parliamentary Companion. Ottawa: J. Durie & Son. pp. 312–313.
  3. ^ Johnson, J.K., ed. (1968). The Canadian Directory of Parliament, 1867-1967. Ottawa: Public Archives Canada. p. 483.
  4. ^ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Annapolis, Nova Scotia (1867)". lop.parl.ca.
  5. ^ Langevin, Edouard J. (1868). Return on the Elections to the House of Commons of Canada (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer.
  6. ^ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Annapolis, Nova Scotia (1872)". lop.parl.ca.
  7. ^ Sayers, Anthony M. "1872 Federal Election". Canadian Elections Database. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024.
  8. ^ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Annapolis, Nova Scotia (1874)". lop.parl.ca.
  9. ^ Pope, Richard (1874). Return on the Third General Election for the House of Commons of Canada (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer.
  10. ^ Sayers, Anthony M. "1874 Federal Election". Canadian Elections Database. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024.
  11. ^ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Annapolis, Nova Scotia (1878)". lop.parl.ca.
  12. ^ Pope, Richard (1879). Return on the Fourth General Election for the House of Commons of Canada (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer.
  13. ^ Sayers, Anthony M. "1878 Federal Election". Canadian Elections Database. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024.
  14. ^ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Annapolis, Nova Scotia (1882)". lop.parl.ca.
  15. ^ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Annapolis, Nova Scotia (1887)". lop.parl.ca.
  16. ^ Pope, Richard (1887). Return on the ... General Election for the House of Commons of Canada (Report). Ottawa: Queen's Printer.