Bliss Botsford

Bliss Botsford (November 26, 1813 – April 5, 1890) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada. He represented Westmorland County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1851 to 1854, from 1856 to 1861 and from 1866 to 1870.

He was born in

Fredericton but did not receive a degree. Botsford then studied law with William End, was called to the bar in 1838 and set up practice at the Bend of Petitcodiac (incorporated as Moncton

in 1855). In 1842, he married Jane Chapman.

Botsford was named mayor of Moncton in 1862 and promptly had the town's incorporation act repealed so that its municipal debt would be spread across the county. Moncton was later incorporated again in 1875 after becoming a major railway centre for the province.

Botsford was an opponent of

Surveyor General

from April 5, 1865 to April 14, 1866.

In 1870, Bliss Botsford was named judge for the court for Westmorland and Albert counties. He was also a major in the county militia and an active

Freemason

.

Botsford died in Moncton at the age of 76 after collapsing while descending a flight of stairs and then falling out through a window.

References

Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
The Canadian parliamentary companion HJ Morgan (1869)
"Hon. Bliss Botsford". Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick.