Thomas Robertson
Canadian civil servant, entrepreneur and politician
About Thomas Robertson
Lived 1852 – 1902 (aged 49). Thomas Robertson was a Canadian politician, writer and civil servant.
Thomas Robertson (September 13, 1852 – April 19, 1902) was a Canadian civil servant, entrepreneur and politician. Robertson was a Liberal member of Parliament for the electoral district of Shelburne in the House of Commons of Canada from 1878 to 1887, a Nova Scotia Liberal member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1894 to 1902, and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in 1902.
Born in Barrington, Nova Scotia, the son of Robert Robertson and Sarah Richan, he worked in the provincial Department of Public Works and Mines and in the office of the provincial secretary as well as in the immigration branch of the federal Department of Agriculture. In 1884, he married Josephine Hume Allan. Robertson was president of the Barrington and Cape Island Steam Ferry Company and of the Coast Railway Company, nicknamed "Tom Robertson's Wheelbarrow Railway" and later taken over by the Canadian Northern Railway. He established a newspaper, the Cape Sable Advertiser, which operated from 1886 to 1890.
Robertson died in Dell Rapids, South Dakota, at the age of 49 while attempting to recover from an illness.
His son, Wishart McLea Robertson was a senator, Speaker of the Senate, and a minister without portfolio.
Electoral record
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
Family & relationships
People in Thomas Robertson's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Thomas Robertson's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Thomas Robertson?
Canadian civil servant, entrepreneur and politician (1852-1902)
When was Thomas Robertson born?
Thomas Robertson was born on 13 September 1852 in Barrington Passage.
When did Thomas Robertson die?
Thomas Robertson died on 19 April 1902 in Dell Rapids.
What was Thomas Robertson's occupation?
Thomas Robertson was a politician, writer and civil servant.
What nationality was Thomas Robertson?
Thomas Robertson was Canadian.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Thomas Robertson (Nova Scotia politician)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Thomas Robertson. https://biography.guide/thomas-robertson-politician-1852/
MLA: "Thomas Robertson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/thomas-robertson-politician-1852/.
Chicago: "Thomas Robertson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/thomas-robertson-politician-1852/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:20 UTC