Mather Byles Almon

Mather Byles Almon (1796 – 30 July 1871) was a Canadian banker, politician, and philanthropist.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Almon was a founder of the Bank of Nova Scotia. He was president of the bank from 1837 to 1870. He also helped with the administration of Halifax and Nova Scotia, and was appointed to the legislative and executive councils of the province. Originally aligned with Tory politicians, he left the party to join the Anti-Confederation Party in 1864.

Early life, family, and early career

Almon was born in Halifax in 1796. His father was William James Almon and his mother was Rebecca Byles; both were members of loyalist families. There is no record of Almon's early education.

In the 1820s, Almon established a general and wholesale firm in Halifax. He was also an insurance agent for the Halifax Fire Insurance Company and the Halifax Marine Insurance Association, the latter of which he helped to establish in 1838. He was also an agent for several British firms. In 1854, he was appointed as a governor of King's College and remained in that role until 1871 (with one year of interruption in 1868). At his death, his estate was valued at $616,000 .