Thomas Chandler Haliburton
Thomas Chandler Haliburton was a notable Canadian writer and judge born in the late 1790s in Nova Scotia. He was part of an upper-class family and pursued legal studies at the University of King's College in Windsor, after which he established a law practice in Annapolis Royal. Haliburton gained respect not only as a businessman but also as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas and the provincial supreme court. He began his writing career later in life, at the age of thirty-nine, and became renowned for his works that spanned various topics including politics, history, and art, as well as humorous commentary on farming.
His first significant publication was "A General Description of Nova Scotia," which appeared anonymously in 1823. Haliburton's most acclaimed contribution was the "The Clockmaker" series, featuring the character Samuel Slick, which started in 1835 and gained popularity throughout the British Empire. Additionally, he authored the first comprehensive history of Nova Scotia in 1829. After retiring from his legal career in 1856, Haliburton moved to England and served as a member of the House of Commons until his death in 1865, all while continuing to develop the adventures of Sam Slick in his writings.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Thomas Chandler Haliburton
Author
- Born: December 17, 1796
- Birthplace: Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Died: August 27, 1865
- Place of death: Isleworth, England
Biography
Thomas Haliburton was born in the late 1790’s to an upper-class family in Nova Scotia. He studied law at University of King’s College in Windsor. After completing his studies, he opened a law practice in Annapolis Royal. In Annapolis Royal, Haliburton was known as a respected businessman. He later served as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas and as a judge of the provincial supreme court.
Haliburton was most well-known and respected for his writing. Haliburton began writing late in life, first trying his hand at comical writing at the age of thirty-nine. His books covered a wide range of topics, from politics, history, and art to farming. Haliburton’s first work, A General Description of Nova Scotia, was published anonymously in 1823.
Haliburton’s most successful work was his popular series, The Clockmaker, featuring the character Samuel Slick. The Clockmaker series first appeared in the Nova Scotian in 1835 and was later published in book form throughout the British Empire. Haliburton also published the first comprehensive history of Nova Scotia, A Historical and Statistical Account of Nova Scotia, in 1829. Haliburton retired from Canadian law in 1856 and relocated to England, where he joined the House of Commons, of which he remained a member until his death in 1865. Haliburton continued writing about Sam Slick’s humorous adventures throughout his life, publishing the last volume, Sam Slick’s Wise Saws and Modern Instances, in 1853.