Home > William Steeves

Born and raised in Hillsborough, New Brunswick, Steeves was educated in public school and began his career running a small store before becoming a partner in Steeves Brothers, a family mercantile and lumber exporting business. Steeves moved to Saint John, New Brunswick in order to further the business and became a leader in the city's financial community.

Steeves was elected to New Brunswick's colonial House of Assembly in 1846 and was an advocate of governmental reform and the election of all members of the Legislative Council. He was appointed to the Legislative Council (the upper house) in 1851. In 1854 the compact government that had ruled the colony was finally defeated by a reform administration and Steeves became Surveyor General in the new government. He resigned the appointment later that year due to opposition to an unelected person from the Legislative Council being appointed rather than an elected member of the House of Assembly.

In 1855 Steeves became the first chairman of the Department of Public WorksThe notion of internal improvements or public works is a concept in economics and politics. An internal improvement is some constructible object, via which, a nation can improve its economic infrastructure. Examples of internal improvements are: airports,. He left government in 1856Events January 8 Borax is discovered ( John Veatch). January 29 Queen Victoria institutes the Victoria Cross February 18 The American Party ( Know-Nothings) convene in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to nominate their first Presidential candidate, former Presi when the reform administration of Samuel Leonard TilleySir Samuel Leonard Tilley ( May 8, 1818- June 25, 1896) was a Canadian politician. Tilley was descended from United Empire Loyalists on both sides of his family. A pharmacist, he went into business as a druggist. Born in Gagetown, New Brunswick, Tilley wa was defeated over prohibitionFor the judicial writ of prohibition, see Prohibition (writ). For prohibition of drugs in general, see Prohibition (drugs . Prohibition was the period between 1919- 1932 in Finland (called 'kieltolaki'), between 1900 and 1948 in locations in Canada and be but he returned to office with Tilley in 1857Events January 9 Earthquake at Fort Tejon, California with an estimated magnitude of 7. 9 February 16 The National Deaf Mute College (later renamed Gallaudet University) is established in Washington, DC becoming the first school for the advanced education and remained commissioner of public works until 18611861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. Events January January 1 Benito Juarez captures Mexico City January 2 Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia dies and is succeeded by Wilhelm I January 3 American Civil War: Delaware votes not to secede from the United. He continued in Tilley's government as minister without portfolio until 18651865 is a common year starting on Sunday. Events January 31 American Civil War: Confederate General Robert E. Lee becomes general-in-chief. February 17 American Civil War: Columbia, South Carolina burns as Confederate forces flee from advancing Union forc when the government fell due to its support for Canadian Confederation.

Steeves was a supporter of Confederation and was one of New Brunswick's delegates to the Charlottetown Conference and the Quebec Conference of 1864. He was appointed to the Canadian Senate as a Liberal when the chamber was created in 1867. In that body he acted as an advocate for the better care of the mentally ill. He served in the Senate until his death in 1873. He is interred in the Fernhill Cemetery in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Steeves was the great-great-grandfather of New Democratic Party of Canada leader Jack Layton.