Gordon S. Cowan

Gordon S. Cowan
MLA for Halifax Centre
In office
1956–1960
Preceded by James Edward Rutledge
Succeeded by Donald MacKeen Smith
Personal details
Born (1911-05-19)May 19, 1911
St. John's, Newfoundland
Died June 11, 1988(1988-06-11) (aged 77)
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Political party Nova Scotia Liberal Party
Occupation lawyer

Gordon Stewart Cowan (May 19, 1911 – June 11, 1988) was a Canadian politician and judge. He represented the electoral district of Halifax Centre in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1956 to 1960. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.[1]

Born in 1911 at St. John's, Newfoundland, Cowan was educated at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Dalhousie University, Exeter College, Oxford, and was a Rhodes Scholar, Newfoundland.[1] He married Jean E. Rettie in 1937, and then Jean C. (MacDaniel) Mann in 1973.[1] Cowan was employed as an assistant professor at Dalhousie Law School from 1936–1939, and Manitoba Law School from 1939–1941, before practicing law in Halifax from 1941–1966.[1]

Cowan entered provincial politics in the 1956 election, winning the Halifax Centre riding by 620 votes.[2] He was defeated by Progressive Conservative Donald MacKeen Smith when he ran for re-election in 1960.[3] In November 1962, Cowan was a candidate for the leadership of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, but lost by 11 votes to Earl Urquhart.[4] Cowan tried to regain the Halifax Centre seat in the 1963 election, but Smith defeated him by 1603 votes.[5] On August 1, 1966, Cowan was appointed a judge of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court.[1] He served as Chief Justice of the Trial Division from February 16, 1967 until he retired on September 30, 1981.[1] Cowan was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in December 1985.[6] Cowan died at Halifax on June 11, 1988.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Elliott, Shirley B. (1984). The Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, 1758–1983 : a biographical directory (PDF). Public Archives of Nova Scotia. p. 41. ISBN 0-88871-050-X. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  2. ↑ "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1956" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. p. 40. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  3. ↑ "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1960" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. p. 33. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  4. ↑ "New Leader". The Daily News. St. John's N.L. November 5, 1962. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  5. ↑ "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1963" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. p. 31. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  6. ↑ "Order of Canada citation". Office of the Governor General. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  7. ↑ "Former Chief Justice Gordon S. Cowan". The Courts of Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
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