Edward Mortimer Archibald

Who was Edward Mortimer Archibald?

Sir Edward Mortimer Archibald, KCMG was a British diplomat, a lawyer and an office holder active during the transition to responsible government in the colony of Newfoundland.

Archibald was born in Truro, Nova Scotia, the son of Samuel George William Archibald and Elizabeth Dickson. His father was a lawyer, and betimes, attorney general for Nova Scotia. Archibald studied law in his father's office and was admitted to the bar of Nova Scotia in early 1831. The following October, Archibald was appointed chief clerk and registrar of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland, replacing his brother in that position. By 1833 Archibald was an acting assistant judge of the Newfoundland Supreme Court. At the same time, he took on the additional job of chief clerk of the Newfoundland General Assembly.

Beginning in 1857, Archibald served as British consul to New York, a position he held for twenty-six years until his retirement on 1 January 1883. From 1871 he also undertook the additional responsibility of acting as British consul-general for New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

Archibald married Catherine Elizabeth Richardson, on 10 September 1834 at Truro, Nova Scotia.