Fonds Acc2645 - David Laird fonds

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Title proper

David Laird fonds

General material designation

  • Textual record

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  • Source of title proper: Title based on provenance of fonds

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Fonds

Reference code

CA PCA Acc2645

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Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • Transcribed 1973 (Creation)
  • 1903 (Creation)
    Creator
    Laird, David

Physical description area

Physical description

2 pages of textual record

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Archival description area

Name of creator

Laird, David (1833-1914)

Biographical history

Alexander Laird (1788-1873) and Janet Orr (1802-1879) emigrated from Renfrewshire, Scotland to Prince Edward Island in 1819. Their fourth son, David, was born on 12 March 1833, in New Glasgow, PEI. David received his early education at the Central Academy in Charlottetown before attending the Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Truro, Nova Scotia. In 1859, Laird founded the "Protestant and Evangelical Witness" newspaper and in 1860, the "Charlottetown Patriot," which he edited and published. On 30 June 1864, David married Mary Louise Owen (1833-1895) in Georgetown. They had six children: David Rennie (1865-1947), Mary Alice (1867-1945), Arthur Gordon (1868-?), William Charles (1870-1958), James Harold (1872-?), and Fanny Louise (1874-?).

David was elected in the Belfast Constituency of Queen's County in the Legislative Assembly in 1871, a seat he held until 1873. That year he was elected to the federal House of Commons. Laird was Prime Minister MacKenzie's Minister of the Interior from 1873 to 1876, becoming the first individual from PEI to hold a federal cabinet position. In 1876, he was appointed the first Lieutenant Governor of the old Northwest Territories and held this position until 1881. That year his term as governor expired and David returned to Charlottetown. Laird campaigned unsuccessfully in the 1882 and 1887 elections for a seat in federal politics.

In 1884, David served as a delegate to the Pan-Presbyterian Council held in Belfast, Ireland, and in Toronto, Ontario in 1892. In 1898, Laird was appointed as Indian Commissioner for Manitoba and the Northwest Territories and held this title until 1909, at which point he was sent to Ottawa as a governmental advisor on Indian Affairs. David held this position and was actively involved with Indian Affairs until his death on 12 January 1914, in Ottawa.

Custodial history

Scope and content

The fonds consists of the original and transcribed letter written by David Laird to Artemas Moffat of New Glasgow on 31 January 1903. Written from the Indian Commissioner's Office in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Laird writes in response to a Christmas letter sent by Moffat. David expresses anticipation of his next trip to New Glasgow, and asks Moffat to pass his condolences to William Artemas, Mrs. Archibald, and George Smith of New Glasgow.

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Language of material

  • English

Script of material

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Restrictions on access

NO RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

PERMISSION FOR USE AND REPRODUCTION IS REQUIRED FROM THE PUBLIC ARCHIVES AND RECORDS OFFICE; QUESTIONS REGARDING COPYRIGHT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE USER

Finding aids

NO FURTHER FINDING AID AVAILABLE

Associated materials

See also: Acc2487; Acc2541/66; Acc2645; Acc2743; Acc2744/35, 37, 39, 40, 42; Acc2761; Acc2830/1 (Photo); Acc2979; Acc2997/16; Acc3043/248; Acc3099/1

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  • English

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