Scott, Sir Richard William National Historic Person
Prescott, Ontario
Richard William Scott
© William James Topley/Library and Archives Canada/PA-025972
Address :
SW corner of Dibble Street West and Edward Street, Prescott, Ontario
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
1938-05-19
Life Date:
1825 to 1913
Other Name(s):
-
Scott, Sir Richard William
(Designation Name)
Importance:
Politician, sponsored the Ontario Separate School Act of 1863
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: Town Hall SW corner of Dibble Street West and Edward Street, Prescott, Ontario
Born at Prescott, Scott was admitted to the bar in 1848 and practiced law in Ottawa. As a member of the legislature of Unitied Canada (1857-63) he sponsored the Separate School Act of 1863. Subsequently, he represented Ottawa in the Ontario legislature (1867-73) and was Commissioner of Crown Lands (1871-73). Appointed to the Senate in 1874, he served as Secretary of State in the Mackenzie Cabinet (1874-8) and was responsible for the Canada Temperance Act of 1878. He held the same post in the Laurier Government (1890-1908), and was Liberal leader in the Senate (1902-8). He died at Ottawa.