Bliss Botsford

Bliss Botsford, born on November twenty-sixth, eighteen thirteen, in Sackville, New Brunswick, was a prominent lawyer, judge, and political figure in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada. He was the son of William Botsford and Sarah Lowell Murray, the latter being the daughter of William Hazen. Although he studied at King's College in Fredericton, he did not obtain a degree. Botsford pursued a legal career under the mentorship of William End and was called to the bar in eighteen thirty-eight, establishing his practice at the Bend of Petitcodiac, which would later be incorporated as Moncton in eighteen fifty-five.

His political career began with his representation of Westmorland County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, serving from eighteen fifty-one to eighteen fifty-four, again from eighteen fifty-six to eighteen sixty-one, and finally from eighteen sixty-six to eighteen seventy. In eighteen forty-two, he married Jane Chapman, and in eighteen sixty-two, he became the mayor of Moncton. Notably, he repealed the town's incorporation act to distribute its municipal debt across the county, a strategic move that reflected his commitment to the community.

Botsford was a vocal opponent of Confederation and served as the speaker for the Legislative Assembly from eighteen sixty-seven to eighteen seventy. His influence extended to the Executive Council of New Brunswick, where he held the position of Surveyor General from April fifth, eighteen sixty-five, to April fourteenth, eighteen sixty-six. In eighteen seventy, he was appointed as a judge for the court of Westmorland and Albert counties, further solidifying his legacy in the legal realm.

In addition to his legal and political endeavors, Botsford was a major in the county militia and an active member of the Freemasons. His life came to a tragic end in Moncton at the age of seventy-six when he collapsed while descending a flight of stairs, ultimately falling through a window.