John Richard Partelow

Who was John Richard Partelow?

John Richard Partelow was a merchant and political figure in New Brunswick. He represented Saint John County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1827 to 1850 and from 1854 to 1855 and Victoria County from 1851 to 1854.

He was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, the son of Jehiel Partelow, a shoemaker, and was educated there. He worked as a clerk in a store before entering business on his own by 1827. In 1819, he married Jane Hamlin Matthew, with whom he had eight daughters. Partelow became chairman of the appropriations and audit committees which were involved in the distribution of public funds to the counties, a position of great power in the assembly. From 1848 to 1854, he was provincial secretary. Partelow also served as chamberlain for Saint John from 1827 to 1843 and mayor from 1847 to 1848. In 1855, he was named auditor general and served in that post until his death in Fredericton in 1865.