Person

Jones, A.G.

1824-1906

Alfred Gilpin Jones, businessman, office holder, and politician, was born 28 September 1824 at Weymouth, N.S., son of Guy Carleton Jones and Frances (Jones). He was educated at Weymouth and Yarmouth Academy before moving to Halifax at the age of 18. He began work as a bookkeeper for Thomas Clifford Kinnear, West India merchant and ship owner, and was made partner as early as 1850. When Kinnear retired in 1872, Jones established his own firm, A.G. Jones and Company, in the same line of business, which he presided over until 1900. He became involved in politics and provided financial and moral support to the Anti-Confederation League prior to his election to the House of Commons as MP for Halifax 1867-1872, 1874-1878, 1887-1891. After 1872 he ran for election as a Liberal. Jones also served as minister of militia and defence, 1878, and Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, 1900-1906. He sat on the boards of Dalhousie University and Halifax Protestant Orphans' Home, served as president of Nova Scotia Marine Insurance Co. and director of Acadia Fire Insurance Co., and was lieutenant-colonel of the Halifax Volunteer Battalion before organizing the Halifax Volunteer Artillery Brigade in 1864. Jones and his first wife Margaret Wiseman (Stairs), daughter of Hon. William Stairs, were married in 1850 and had seven children. In 1877 he married Emma Albro. Jones died at Halifax on 15 March 1906.

CA NSA

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