Henry Hicks
Encyclopedia
Henry Davies Hicks was a lawyer, university administrator, and politician in Nova Scotia
.
He was born in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia
, the son of Henry Hicks and Annie Kinney. Hicks was educated in Bridgetown and at Mount Allison University
, Dalhousie University
and Oxford University. He was admitted to the Nova Scotia bar in 1941. During World War II
, he served as a captain in the Royal Canadian Artillery.
Hicks was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
in 1945
as a Liberal for Annapolis County
and served as Nova Scotia's first Minister of Education from 1949 to 1954 in the government of Angus L. Macdonald. When Macdonald died, Hicks ran for the Liberal party leadership against interim leader
and then Premier
Harold Connolly
. The party was badly split along religious lines with Protestants uniting behind Hicks to defeat Connolly who was a Roman Catholic. As the new Premier, Hicks was unable to unite the party and his government was defeated in the 1956 election
by Robert Stanfield
's Progressive Conservatives.
Hicks resigned as Leader of the opposition
in 1960 and took the post of Dean of Arts and Science at Dalhousie University
. He later became a Vice President of the school and then President in 1963. He served as President until August 31, 1980 and is recognized as transforming Dalhousie University
from a tiny "College By the Sea" into a leading national research university
.
During Hicks' tenure, the campus underwent a complete transformation as new facilities were built, expanded, or acquired for all areas of the university from academics and research to arts and athletics as well as student housing. In September 2002, the Henry Hicks Academic Administration Building was named after him.
In 1949, Hicks married Pauline Banks; they had four children. In 1965, he married Gene Morrison.
In 1970, Hicks was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
. On April 27, 1972, he was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Pierre Trudeau
, and served in that capacity until his retirement on March 5, 1990.
On the night of 9 December 1990, Hicks and his wife Gene were returning to Bridgetown from a Christmas party in Halifax when their vehicle crossed the centre line of Highway 101
and struck an oncoming car carrying a family of four (husband and wife and their two children). Hicks and his wife were killed, along with the mother and one of the children in the other vehicle; it was later determined that both Hicks and his wife had a blood alcohol content
that was above the legal limit.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
He was born in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia
Bridgetown, Nova Scotia
Bridgetown is a Canadian town in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia.Situated on the Annapolis River at the head of the tide, the area saw Mi'kmaq settlements in the area, followed by Acadian settlers from Port-Royal and then British-sponsored settlements by the late 18th century.There were at least ten...
, the son of Henry Hicks and Annie Kinney. Hicks was educated in Bridgetown and at Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University is a primarily undergraduate Canadian liberal arts and science university situated in Sackville, New Brunswick. It is located about a half hour from the regional city of Moncton and 20 minutes from the Greater Moncton International Airport...
, Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
and Oxford University. He was admitted to the Nova Scotia bar in 1941. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served as a captain in the Royal Canadian Artillery.
Hicks was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
in 1945
Nova Scotia general election, 1945
The 20th Nova Scotia general election was held on 23 October 1945 to elect members of the 43rd House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party....
as a Liberal for Annapolis County
Annapolis (provincial electoral district)
Annapolis is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.The district was created in 1867, and was re-distributed in 1953 into Annapolis East and Annapolis West...
and served as Nova Scotia's first Minister of Education from 1949 to 1954 in the government of Angus L. Macdonald. When Macdonald died, Hicks ran for the Liberal party leadership against interim leader
Interim leader
An interim leader, in Canadian politics, is a party leader appointed by the party's legislative caucus or the party's executive to temporarily act as leader when a gap occurs between the resignation or death of a party leader and the election of a formal successor...
and then Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
Harold Connolly
Harold Connolly
Harold Joseph Connolly was a Nova Scotia journalist, newspaper editor, and politician who served as the province's 15th Premier in 1954....
. The party was badly split along religious lines with Protestants uniting behind Hicks to defeat Connolly who was a Roman Catholic. As the new Premier, Hicks was unable to unite the party and his government was defeated in the 1956 election
Nova Scotia general election, 1956
The 23rd Nova Scotia general election was held on 30 October 1956 to elect members of the 46th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservatives led by Robert Stanfield. This was the first election the Liberal Party fought without their...
by Robert Stanfield
Robert Stanfield
Robert Lorne Stanfield, PC, QC was the 17th Premier of Nova Scotia and leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. He is sometimes referred to as "the greatest prime minister Canada never had", and earned the nickname "Honest Bob"...
's Progressive Conservatives.
Hicks resigned as Leader of the opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
in 1960 and took the post of Dean of Arts and Science at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
. He later became a Vice President of the school and then President in 1963. He served as President until August 31, 1980 and is recognized as transforming Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
from a tiny "College By the Sea" into a leading national research university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
.
During Hicks' tenure, the campus underwent a complete transformation as new facilities were built, expanded, or acquired for all areas of the university from academics and research to arts and athletics as well as student housing. In September 2002, the Henry Hicks Academic Administration Building was named after him.
In 1949, Hicks married Pauline Banks; they had four children. In 1965, he married Gene Morrison.
In 1970, Hicks was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. On April 27, 1972, he was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
, and served in that capacity until his retirement on March 5, 1990.
On the night of 9 December 1990, Hicks and his wife Gene were returning to Bridgetown from a Christmas party in Halifax when their vehicle crossed the centre line of Highway 101
Nova Scotia Highway 101
Highway 101 is an east-west highway in Nova Scotia that runs from Bedford to Yarmouth.The highway follows a route along the southern coast of the Bay of Fundy through the Annapolis Valley. Between its western terminus at Yarmouth to Weymouth, the highway is 2-lane controlled access. Between...
and struck an oncoming car carrying a family of four (husband and wife and their two children). Hicks and his wife were killed, along with the mother and one of the children in the other vehicle; it was later determined that both Hicks and his wife had a blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content , also called blood alcohol concentration, blood ethanol concentration, or blood alcohol level is most commonly used as a metric of alcohol intoxication for legal or medical purposes....
that was above the legal limit.