Malachy (Mally) Bowes Daly 1836 - 1920
Malachy (Mally) Bowes Daly , educated at the High School in Montreal, St. Mary's College, Oscott (England) and St. Mary's College, Halifax, Nova Scotia where he obtained a BA. In 1854 he became private secretary to his father, Sir Dominick Daly, who was then Lt Governor of Prince Edward Island. Beginning in 1859, he studied and practised law in Halifax for several years. He remained there when the Dalys returned to England in 1859 and did not go out to Australia where his father became Governor of South Australia from 1862-68. He was called to the bar in 1864 but temporarily left the legal profession in 1865 when he became private secretary to Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell - Lt Governor of Nova Scotia, then Sir Hastings Doyle and Sir Fenwick Williams when they held office as Lt Governors of the Province of Nova Scotia. He was promoted to Major in the 2nd Brigade Militia Artillery on 12th April 1866 and the Militia was turned out against the Fenians. A conservative in politics he unsuccessfully contested a seat in the Nova Scotia legislature in 1872. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1878 and represented Halifax (as a Conservative) until 1887, serving as Deputy Speaker from 1883-86. In July 1890 he became Lt Governor of Nova Scotia and lived in Halifax. A leading article in the Halifax Morning Herald of Wednesday 9th July 1890 reads as follows: `The New Governor - The appointment of Mr. M.B. Daly to the office of Lieutenant-Governor is one that will give public satisfaction throughout the whole province. In fact, it is generally known that several years ago Mr. Daly was tendered the same appointment, but at that time he declined for purely personal reasons to accept. Upon the death of Lieutenant-Governor McLelan it was generally accepted that Mr. Daly would be tendered for the office again, so the announcement made in the Herald yesterday morning created no surprise whatever. He is deservedly popular with all creeds and classes. If we mistake not, he is the first Roman Catholic who has held this office in Nova Scotia. Well versed in constitutional law, of genial disposition, and thoroughly familiar with all the duties appertaining to the position, he will be a worthy successor of the many able men who have preceded him.' He retired in 1900 after serving two terms as Lieutenant-Governor of the province and continued to take a benevolent interest in philanthropic and welfare work of all kinds and was made KCMG (Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George) that same year. At various times he had his office in Halifax at 16 Bedford Row, 164 Hollis Street, and in the Metropole Building (193 ½ Hollis Street). He resided at such addresses as 8 South Street, in what was described as a brick mansion which had been recently erected by Henry Peters, and which Malachy had purchased for $7,000, also 21 Morris Street, 229 Pleasant Street (between Morris and Bishop Street), and 95 Spring Garden Road. He was fortunate to survive the huge ammunition explosion at Halifax on 6th December 1917 (when he was knocked off his feet by the blast) and wrote an interesting account of the aftermath when it was estimated that as many as 3000 were killed. The French ship SS MONT BLANC, carrying 4000 tons of high explosive, collided with the SS IMO, in Halifax harbour, which caused the greatest man-made explosion before the splitting of the atom. On 18th February 1918, 50 years after Sir Malachy Daly had been elected President of the Charitable Irish Society of Halifax, he was honoured by that Society with an address and a Loving Cup. As a young man he was a cricketer of some repute in Canada and it is recorded that he made the first century in Canada when playing in 1858 against the Halifax garrison. He married Joan Kenny (d. February 1909), second daughter of Sir Edward and Lady Ann (Forrestal) Kenny (of Halifax) on 4th July 1859, and they had a daughter, Mary Caroline, who was born on 6th October 1860 and died unmarried at Halifax in the 1940's. He died at Halifax in on 26th April 1920 in his eighty fifth year. Sir Malacy Bowes Daly was the Great Uncle of Richard Jenkins of Nr. Royston, UK. Thank you for Richard for contributin this information
|
| Born: Marchmont, , Quebec, Canada 6th Feb 1836 | Baptised:
| | Died: 26th Apr 1920 | Buried:
| | Family: Daly |
Sources
- Family Archivists: see
Daly
|
|