title: Hants (provincial electoral district)
text: # Hants (provincial electoral district)
  
  Hants was a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that, at the time of its dissolution, elected one member to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. It existed from 1867 until 1949, at which point the district was divided into the current electoral districts of Hants East and Hants West.
  
  ## Members of the Legislative Assembly
  
  Hants elected the following members to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly:
  
  | Legislature | Years | Member | Party |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | 43rd | 1945–1949 | Robert A. MacLellan | Liberal |
  | 42nd | 1941–1945 | Alexander Stirling MacMillan | Liberal |
  | 41st | 1937–1941 | Alexander Stirling MacMillan | Liberal |
  | 40th | 1933–1937 | Alexander Stirling MacMillan | Liberal |
  
  From 1933 to 1949, Hants elected one member to the Legislative Assembly. Prior to 1933, the district elected two members.
  
  | Legislature | Years | Member | Member | Party | Member | Party |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 39th | 1930–1933 | seat declared vacant | seat declared vacant | seat declared vacant | Albert E. Parsons | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 39th | 1928–1930 | | Edgar Nelson Rhodes | Liberal-Conservative | Albert E. Parsons | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 38th | 1925–1928 | | Edgar Nelson Rhodes | Liberal-Conservative | Albert E. Parsons | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 37th | 1920–1925 | | James William Reid | Liberal | John Alexander MacDonald | Farmer's Party |
  | 36th | 1916–1920 | | James William Reid | Liberal | Albert E. Parsons | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 35th | 1911–1916 | | James William Reid | Liberal | Albert E. Parsons | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 34th | 1909–1911 | | James O'Brien | Liberal | Albert E. Parsons | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 34th | 1907–1909 | | James O'Brien | Liberal | Charles Smith Wilcox | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 34th | 1906–1907 | | Arthur Drysdale | Liberal | Charles Smith Wilcox | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 33rd | 1901–1906 | | Arthur Drysdale | Liberal | Francis Parker McHeffey | Liberal |
  | 32nd | 1897–1901 | | Arthur Drysdale | Liberal | Charles Smith Wilcox | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 31st | 1894–1897 | | Arthur Drysdale | Liberal | Charles Smith Wilcox | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 30th | 1891–1894 | | Arthur Drysdale | Liberal | Thomas Barlow Smith | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 30th | 1890–1891 | | Allen Haley | Liberal | Thomas Barlow Smith | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 29th | 1886–1890 | | Allen Haley | Liberal | Archibald Frame | Liberal |
  | 28th | 1882–1886 | | Allen Haley | Liberal | Nathaniel David Spence | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 27th | 1878–1882 | | Thomas Barlow Smith | Liberal | Nathaniel David Spence | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 26th | 1874–1878 | | William Henry Allison | Liberal-Conservative | Alfred Putnam | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 25th | $1874^†$ | | Thomas Barlow Smith | Liberal | Henry Yeomans | Liberal |
  | 25th | 1871–1874 | | William Henry Allison | Liberal-Conservative | William McDougall | Liberal-Conservative |
  | 24th | 1867–1871 | | William Dawson Lawrence | Anti-Confederation | Elkanah Young | Anti-Confederation |
  
  $^†There$ were two by-elections held in 1874, shortly followed by a general election. The by-elections of March 10th, 1874 saw Allison and McDougall replaced by Smith and Yeomans. The general election held on December 17th, 1874 saw the re-election of Allison and the election of Alfred Putnam.
  
  ## Election results
  
  ### 1867 general election
  
  1867 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | William Dawson Lawrence | 1,529 | 31.52% |
  | | Liberal | Elkanah Young | 1,497 | 30.86% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Parker | 921 | 18.99% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | William McDougall | 904 | 18.64% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 4,851 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1871 general election
  
  1871 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | William Henry Allison | 1,446 | 27.42% |
  | | Liberal | William McDougall | 1,396 | 26.47% |
  | | Liberal | Fred Curry | 1,249 | 23.68% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | William Dawson Lawrence | 1,183 | 22.43% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 5,274 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1874 general election
  
  1874 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | William Henry Allison | 1,463 | 34.82% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Alfred Putnam | 1,407 | 33.48% |
  | | Liberal | Thomas Barlow Smith | 1,332 | 31.70% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 4,202 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1878 general election
  
  1878 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Nathaniel Spence | 1,621 | 27.52% |
  | | Liberal | Thomas Barlow Smith | 1,507 | 25.58% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | F. S. Creelman | 1,465 | 24.87% |
  | | Liberal | William Dawson Lawrence | 1,298 | 22.03% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 5,891 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1882 general election
  
  1882 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Allen Haley | 1,261 | 25.55% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Nathaniel Spence | 1,236 | 25.05% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | F. S. Creelman | 1,229 | 24.90% |
  | | Liberal | Archibald Frame | 1,209 | 24.50% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 4,935 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1886 general election
  
  1886 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Allen Haley | 1,552 | 25.50% |
  | | Liberal | Archibald Frame | 1,522 | 25.00% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Allan MacDougall | 1,508 | 24.77% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Nathaniel Spence | 1,505 | 24.72% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 6,087 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1890 general election
  
  1890 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Thomas Barlow Smith | 1,698 | 25.84% |
  | | Liberal | Allen Haley | 1,661 | 25.28% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Adam McDougall | 1,660 | 25.26% |
  | | Liberal | Archibald Frame | 1,552 | 23.62% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 6,571 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1894 general election
  
  1894 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Charles Smith Wilcox | 1,730 | 25.56% |
  | | Liberal | Arthur Drysdale | 1,706 | 25.20% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | James A. Thompson | 1,689 | 24.95% |
  | | Liberal | W. H. Guild | 1,644 | 24.29% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 6,769 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1897 general election
  
  1897 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Arthur Drysdale | 1,768 | 25.58% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Charles Smith Wilcox | 1,732 | 25.05% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | James A. Thompson | 1,707 | 24.69% |
  | | Liberal | William McDonald Douglas | 1,706 | 24.68% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 6,913 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1901 general election
  
  1901 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Arthur Drysdale | 2,092 | 29.54% |
  | | Liberal | Francis Parker McHeffey | 1,914 | 27.02% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Charles Smith Wilcox | 1,619 | 22.86% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | A. S. Sanford | 1,458 | 20.58% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 7,083 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1906 general election
  
  1906 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Arthur Drysdale | 1,934 | 26.19% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Charles Smith Wilcox | 1,859 | 25.17% |
  | | Liberal | E. A. O'Brien | 1,800 | 24.37% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Francis Parker McHeffey | 1,792 | 24.27% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 7,385 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1911 general election
  
  1911 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Albert Parsons | 2,303 | 29.53% |
  | | Liberal | James William Reid | 2,066 | 26.49% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | P. M. Fielding | 2,006 | 25.72% |
  | | Liberal | Henry M. Munro | 1,425 | 18.27% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 7,800 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1916 general election
  
  1916 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Albert Parsons | 2,142 | 26.24% |
  | | Liberal | James William Reid | 2,051 | 25.13% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Herbert W. Sangster | 2,041 | 25.00% |
  | | Liberal | Burchill R. Fulmer | 1,929 | 23.63% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 8,163 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1920 general election
  
  1920 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | James William Reid | 3,035 | 30.69% |
  | | United Farmers | John Alexander MacDonald | 2,179 | 22.03% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Albert Parsons | 2,083 | 21.06% |
  | | United Farmers | Walter J. Aylword | 1,594 | 16.12% |
  | | Labour | Wiley V. Davison | 998 | 10.09% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 9,889 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1925 general election
  
  1925 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Albert Parsons | 4,806 | 31.38% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Edgar Nelson Rhodes | 4,573 | 29.86% |
  | | Liberal | James William Reid | 3,075 | 20.08% |
  | | Liberal | Lionel A. Forsyth | 2,860 | 18.68% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 15,314 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1928 general election
  
  1928 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Albert Parsons | 4,087 | 26.46% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Edgar Nelson Rhodes | 4,008 | 25.95% |
  | | Liberal | James William Reid | 3,823 | 24.75% |
  | | Liberal | Robert Gass | 3,528 | 22.84% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 15,446 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1933 general election
  
  1933 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Alexander Stirling MacMillan | 5,328 | 53.65% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Albert Parsons | 4,603 | 46.35% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 9,931 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1937 general election
  
  1937 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Alexander Stirling MacMillan | 5,590 | 54.96% | 1.31% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Leonard William Fraser | 4,581 | 45.04% | -1.31% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 10,171 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1941 general election
  
  1941 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Alexander Stirling MacMillan | 4,871 | 57.56% | 2.60% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Norman Dexter Blanchard | 3,592 | 42.44% | -2.60% |
  | Total | Total | Total | 8,463 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  
  ### 1945 general election
  
  1945 Nova Scotia general election :
  
  | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Robert A. MacLellan | 4,951 | 52.66% | -4.89% |
  | | Liberal–Conservative | Norman Dudley Murray | 3,194 | 33.98% | -8.47% |
  | | Co-operative Commonwealth | Frederick Charles Gilmore Scott | 1,256 | 13.36% | – |
  | Total | Total | Total | 9,401 | – |
  | Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Hants West" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||
  