Mather Byles Almon

Mather Byles Almon, Canadian banker, politician and philanthropist, co-awardee with his brother William Byles Almon, brother-in-law James William Johnston and Lewis Johnston, probably as executors of John Johnston (all q.v.).

1. Born 1796 in Nova Scotia, son of William James Almon and Rebecca Byles. Married Sophia Pryor, 31/01/1825. They had 14 children, 5 of whom died young. Became an insurance agent; business dealings included acting as agent for Colonial Life Assurance Company, the Pelican Life Insurance Company, and the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company. One of the original directors of the Bank of Nova Scotia in 1832. Supporter of Protestant charities in Nova Scotia. Governor of Dalhousie University 1842-1848 and Kings College, Windsor, 1854-1868 and 1869-1871. Died at Halifax, 30/07/1871.

T71/865 St Andrew claim no. 494 (Mount Salus).

1. K. G. Pryke, Entry for Mather Byles Almon in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online: http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=4791 [accessed 07/07/2012].