Elias Hardy

Elias Hardy was born in England and immigrated to Virginia in 1775. Like most Loyalists he sympathized with America in its quarrel with Britain but opposed the ultimate solution of colonial independence. (See Canada and the American Revolution.) He became one of thousands who migrated northward to Saint John (then part of Nova Scotia) in 1783.

As leader of the bitter agitation for speedy and equitable land distribution, he allied politically with Nova Scotia governor John Parr in his futile efforts to prevent the separation of New Brunswick in 1784. When the new colony had its first election (1785), Hardy skilfully channelled popular discontent into opposition to the lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, Thomas Carleton. Hardy was elected to the assembly, though the remainder of his political career (1786–95) was relatively uneventful. Meanwhile, he quickly established himself as New Brunswick's leading lawyer.