Halifax Public Libraries

At the peak of the Age of Sail, shipbuilders and ship owners were almost consistently against Confederation. Most had stronger trade ties to the New England States and were wary of the higher tariffs that were charged in Central Canada. Captains and merchants saw Confederation as a vote for increased business costs complicated by loss of public interest for imported British good.

A prominent shipbuilder, businessman and politician of this time, William Dawson Lawrence (1817–1886) joined Joseph Howe in forming the Anti-Confederation party to fight Premier Charles Tupper and his campaign to merge Canada as one.

Date: [19--]

Reference: Halifax Public Libraries Postcard Collection Halifax Central Library HPL-PC-0197

For more information, please contact the Local History Room at the Halifax Central Library.