William Kidston (February 11, 1816[1] – 1882[2]) was a merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Victoria County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1867 to 1871 as a Liberal member.

He was born in Halifax, the son of William Kidston, a Glasgow merchant, and Elizabeth Dawson, and was educated in Glasgow. His sister Eliza (1823–60) married the Rev James Law, and was the mother of the British prime minister Bonar Law.[3][4] In 1836, he married Margaret Ann,[1] the widow of Lieutenant James Duffus. Kidston was a major in the local militia, treasurer for Victoria County and custos rotulorum for the county.[5] He also served as justice of the peace.[1] Kidston lived in Baddeck. He ran unsuccessfully for reelection to the provincial assembly in 1874.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Public Archives of Nova Scotia (1984). Elliott, Shirley B (ed.). The Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, 1758-1983: A biographical directory. Province of Nova Scotia. ISBN 0-88871-050-X.
  2. ^ Patterson, GG & MacDonald, WJ Patterson's History of Victoria County, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia (1978)
  3. ^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Andrew Bonar Law
  4. ^ Helensburgh Trust: The Kidston Family
  5. ^ a b The Canadian parliamentary companion, HJ Morgan (1871)


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