William Annand

Who was William Annand?

William Annand was a Nova Scotia publisher and politician.

Born in Halifax, Annand was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in 1836 and supported demands for responsible government. He lost his seat in 1843 and became proprietor and editor of the Novascotian and Morning Chronicle newspapers. In 1851 he returned to the House of Assembly as member for Halifax County. He was the financial secretary in Joseph Howe's ministry from 1860 to 1863 and in 1867 was appointed to the Legislative Council. In July 1866, Annand and Howe headed up a delegation to London in order to lobby against Nova Scotia's inclusion in confederation. He became the second post-confederation Premier of Nova Scotia November 7, 1867 on behalf of the Anti-Confederation Party which soon became the Nova Scotia Liberal Party but was a weak leader. He resigned May 8, 1875 and was replaced three days later by Philip Carteret Hill. One historian has dismissed him as a "mediocrity" who "possessed neither outstanding ability nor great depth of character".

He died in London in 1887.

His character was in the television drama "The Night They Killed Joe Howe", starring Douglas Rain, Austin Willis and James Doohan, was located in Maitland, Nova Scotia