Alexander Keith (politician)

Alexander Keith (5 October 1795 14 December 1873) was the founder of Alexander Keith's Brewery, a businessman, politician and Freemason.

Alexander Keith
President of the Legislative Council of Nova Scotia
In office
1867–1873
4th Mayor of Halifax
In office
1852–1853
Preceded byAndrew MacKinlay
Succeeded byHenry Pryor
In office
1843–1844
Preceded byThomas Williamson
Succeeded byHugh Bell
Personal details
Born(1795-10-05)October 5, 1795
Halkirk, Caithness, Highland, Scotland
DiedDecember 14, 1873(1873-12-14) (aged 78)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Resting placeCamp Hill Cemetery
44°38′33.9″N 63°35′10.2″W
NationalityCanadian
Political partyConservative
ResidenceKeith Hall, Halifax, Nova Scotia
OccupationBrewer
Signature

Business

After learning the brewing trade from his uncle in Northern England,[1] Keith immigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1817 and became manager at a brewery, which he bought out in 1820. In 1822, he moved the brewery to larger facilities and, in 1836, built a new brewery.

The end of slavery in the British and French Caribbean reduced the availability of sugar for rum-making, and other beverages grew in popularity.[2] Beverages brewed by Keith included spruce beer, porter, ginger wine, and strong ale. The brewery is now part of Anheuser-Busch InBev.

From 1837, he served in senior management of various companies, including the Bank of Nova Scotia, the Halifax Fire Insurance Company, Colonial Life Assurance Company, the Halifax Gas, Light, and Water Company, the Provincial Permanent Building, and Investment Society.

Political career

In 1841, he was elected to the city council of Halifax and was elected mayor in 1843, 1853, and 1854. In 1843, he was appointed to the Legislative Council of Nova Scotia, becoming its president from 1867[1] until his death in 1873.

Keith served with several fraternal and charitable societies, including as president of the North British Society and Grand Master of the Freemasons.

Personal life

Born in Caithness, Scotland, in 1795 he immigrated to Nova Scotia in 1817. Keith married Sarah Ann Stalcup in 1822, and they had three children, all of whom died before reaching adulthood. Sarah Ann Stalcup died in 1832, and a year later, Keith married Eliza Keith, with whom he had eight children.[1] Architect William Hay began construction of Keith's new residence, Keith Hall, in 1863.[2] The palazzo mixes styles including baroque and a mansard roof. He died in Halifax in 1873 and is buried at Camp Hill Cemetery. His estate at death was evaluated at $251,000.[1]

See also

Alexander Keith Jr.: Keith's nephew, a criminal and Confederate secret agent. In 1875 he used a time bomb to attempt to destroy the ship Mosel in Bremerhaven, Germany so he could collect on an insurance fraud scheme.

References

  1. Pryke, K.G. (1972–2019). "Alexander Keith". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. University of Toronto/Université Laval. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  2. Keith Hall and Brewery. . Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
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