Seely, Alexander McLeod

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: C. M. Wallace, “SEELY, ALEXANDER McLEOD,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 11, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/seely_alexander_mcleod_11E.html
  • DCB profile notes:
    • Businessman and office-holder; b. 10 Feb. 1812 in Saint John, N.B., the son of Seth Seely Jr; m. first 29 June 1834 Sarah Morrell (d. 1848) of Saint John, and they had four children; m. secondly 10 Oct. 1850 Lillian Ann Hammond of Charlestown (now part of Boston), Mass., and they had four children; d. 10 July 1882 at Saint John.
    • Alexander McLeod Seely’s grandfather, a loyalist from Stamford, Conn., was granted land in Saint John in 1783, but decided instead to farm up-river on Long Reach. Seely’s father became a seaman and later a captain on many ships, including the privateer Nancy in 1812, the year Alexander was born. Educated in the public schools of Saint John, Alexander became a lumber surveyor and in 1834 entered the employ of Thomas McMackin of Indiantown (now part of Saint John) as a clerk. By 1838 Seely had established himself as an independent timber merchant in the Saint John suburb of Portland. There he acquired a sawmill and expanded his interests to include the transport and export of lumber. In the 1840s he had two or more ships built for him on the west bank of the Saint John River and joined the Portland and Lancaster Steam Ferry Company, which provided ferry service across the as yet unbridged mouth of the river. In 1849 he became president of the ferry company and in 1850 its sole owner.
    • Of central importance to Seely’s life was his affiliation with the Baptist Church. As early as the 1830s he was secretary of the church-supported Portland Abstinence Society and he was for many years a trustee and treasurer of the Leinster Street Baptist Church in Saint John.
    • In recognition of his prominence in business and in the Baptist Church, Seely was appointed to the New Brunswick Legislative Council early in 1854. He did not distinguish himself as a speaker nor did he appear to have much political influence, a point emphasized by his not being appointed to the Canadian Senate in 1867 when about half of his colleagues were so honoured. By the mid 1870s he had become a senior member of the council and had earned a reputation as a meticulous legislator with expertise in parliamentary procedure and practice. In 1879 he was chosen president of the Legislative Council.
  • Grandson of Proven United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=7423
  • Find a GRAVE: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/233892922/alexander-mclaughlan-seely