William Hallett Ray

William Hallett Ray (May 25, 1825 – May 7, 1909) was a Canadian politician, farmer, and merchant.

William Hallett Ray
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Annapolis
In office 1867–1878
Preceded by	Electoral district established
Succeeded by	Avard Longley
In office 1882–1887
Preceded by	Avard Longley
Succeeded by	John B. Mills
Personal details
Born	May 25, 1825 Clementsport, Nova Scotia
Died	May 7, 1909(1909-05-07) (aged 83) Clementsport, Nova Scotia, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Anti-Confederate (September 20, 1867-January 29, 1869), Liberal (January 30, 1869-)
Occupation	farmer, merchant

Born in Clementsport, Annapolis Valley,^[1] where he worked as a farmer and a merchant, Ray was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Annapolis County in an 1864 by-election held after James William Johnston was named to the bench.^[2] He was first elected to represent the Annapolis electoral district in the House of Commons of Canada on September 20, 1867, and remained in office until his defeat in September 1878. Ray was re-elected for one more term in the June 1882 elections. He was a member of the Anti-Confederation Party until January 1869, when he left it for the Liberal Party.^[1] In 1887, Ray was named to the Legislative Council of Nova Scotia.^[2]

He married Henrietta Ditmars in 1848. Ray also served as lieutenant-colonel in the county militia.^[2]

He died in Clementsport at the age of 83.^[3]

Election results

v t e 1867 Canadian federal election: Annapolis
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Anti-Confederation	William Hallett Ray	1,171	53.54
	Conservative	Avard Longley	1,016	46.46
Total valid votes			2,187	100.00
This electoral district was created by the British North America Act, 1867 from the colonial Province of Nova Scotia'a Annapolis electoral district. Both Avard Longley and William Hallett Ray were incumbents, along with George Whitman.
Source: Library of Parliament^[4]

v t e 1872 Canadian federal election: Annapolis
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	William Hallett Ray	1,129
	Conservative	Avard Longley	1,019

v t e 1874 Canadian federal election: Annapolis
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	William Hallett Ray	878
	Unknown	T.W. Chesley	220

v t e 1878 Canadian federal election: Annapolis
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Conservative	Avard Longley	1,301
	Liberal	William Hallett Ray	1,298

v t e 1882 Canadian federal election: Annapolis
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	William Hallett Ray	1,430
	Unknown	R.E. Fitzrandolph	1,368

v t e 1887 Canadian federal election: Annapolis
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Conservative	John B. Mills	1,758
	Liberal	William Hallett Ray	1,730

References

1. William Hallett Ray – Parliament of Canada biography
2. The Canadian parliamentary companion, 1897, AJ Gemmill
3. Johnson, J.K. (1968). The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867-1967. Public Archives of Canada.
4. Library of Parliament. "History of Federal Ridings since 1867, Annapolis, Nova Scotia (1867 - 1917)". Retrieved 1 December 2015.