A Cyclopædia of Canadian Biography: Brief biographies of persons distinguished in the professional, military and political life, and the commerce and industry of Canada, in the twentieth century
History
A Cyclopædia of Canadian Biography: Brief biographies of persons distinguished in the professional, military and political life, and the commerce and industry of Canada, in the twentieth century
Canada -- Biography
=Flint, Thomas Barnard, M.A., LL.B., D.C.L.=, Ottawa, Ont., ex-clerk of
the House of Commons, was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, April 28, 1847,
and was educated at Yarmouth and Mt. Allison University, Sackville, New
Brunswick. He received his B.A. in 1867; his M.A. in 1872; also LL.B. of
Harvard University, 1871. He was called to the Bar in 1872; was
appointed a commissioner of the Supreme and County Courts in 1873; was
Sheriff of Yarmouth County from 1883 to 1887, and Assistant Clerk of the
Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1887 to 1891. In 1891 he was elected
to the House of Commons and was re-elected at the elections of 1896 and
1900. He was appointed Clerk of the House of Commons, Nov. 11, 1902, and
retired from that position at the beginning of session of 1918, owing to
failing eyesight. In 1903 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of
Civil Law. He edited the 3rd and 4th editions of Bourinot Parliamentary
Procedure. In 1874 he was married to Mary Ella Dane, a daughter of the
late Thomas B. Dane, who for many years was an influential citizen of
Yarmouth. Personally, Dr. Flint, an honorable man, with high ideals of
the amenities of public life, liberally educated, and endowed with
cultivated taste, entirely without prejudice of race or religion, well
posted on public affairs, an efficient, unassuming, practical man,
commanded the respect of Liberals and Conservatives alike, both as a
member of the House of Commons and as clerk. Dr. Flint at one time was
Vice-President of the Dominion Prohibition Alliance, and was one of the
founders, and for many years vice-president of the Yarmouth Building and
Loan Society, a most successful local business. After he was admitted to
the Bar he rapidly became one of its leaders in his district. As a
member of the House of Commons Dr. Flint was Chairman of Standing Orders
from 1898 to 1902. During the Session of 1894-5 he moved resolutions in
the House of Commons in favor of prohibition. In 1907 he was elected
President of the Ottawa Literary and Scientific Society. As a speaker,
Dr. Flint proved to be a leading debater, forceful and pleasing in
manner, ever giving evidence as an authority on every question which he
took up. He is of New England ancestry, and the son of the late John
Flint, ship owner, and Anne (Barnard) Flint. He is an Anglican in
religion and a Liberal in politics. From 1897 to 1899 he was Grand
Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons, of Nova Scotia. Upon his retirement
from the Clerkship of the House of Commons Dr. Flint was by resolution
of the House made an honorary official of the House and granted an
annuity in recognition of his public services. He now resides in
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
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Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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