Alexander Keith (politician)

Alexander Keith
President of the Legislative Council of Nova Scotia
In office 1867–1873
4th Mayor of Halifax
In office 1852–1853
Preceded by	Andrew MacKinlay
Succeeded by	Henry Pryor
In office 1843–1844
Preceded by	Thomas Williamson
Succeeded by	Hugh Bell
Personal details
Born	(1795-10-05)October 5, 1795 Halkirk, Caithness, Highland, Scotland
Died	December 14, 1873(1873-12-14) (aged 78) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Resting place	Camp Hill Cemetery 44°38′33.9″N 63°35′10.2″W
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Conservative
Residence(s)	Keith Hall, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Occupation	Brewer
Signature

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

Business

After learning the brewing trade from his uncle in Northern England, Keith emigrated 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. 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 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. Architect William Hay began construction of Keith's new residence, Keith Hall, in 1863. 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.

Gallery

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  Sarah Ann Keith, Old Burying Ground
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  Alexander Keith, Camp Hill Cemetery

See also

Alexander Keith Jr.: his nephew, who was a criminal and Confederate secret agent and used in 1875 a time bomb in an attempt to destroy the ship Mosel in Bremerhaven, Germany, to collect in an insurance fraud scheme.