William Berrian Vail

William Berrian Vail, PC (December 19, 1823 – April 10, 1904) was a Canadian businessman and politician.

The Honourable William Berrian Vail PC
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Digby
In office 1874–1877
Preceded by	Edwin Randolph Oakes
Succeeded by	John Chipman Wade
In office 1882–1887
Preceded by	John Chipman Wade
Succeeded by	John Campbell
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Digby County
In office 1867–1874
Personal details
Born	(1823-12-19)December 19, 1823 Sussex Vale, Colony of New Brunswick
Died	April 10, 1904(1904-04-10) (aged 80) Dover, England
Political party	Liberal
Other political affiliations	Nova Scotia Liberal Party
Relations	Edwin Arnold Vail, brother
Cabinet	Provincial: Provincial Secretary (1867-1874) Federal: Minister of Militia and Defence (1874-1878)

Biography

Vail was born in Sussex Vale, New Brunswick, the son of John Cougle Vail and Charlotte Hannah Arnold. In 1850, he married Charlotte Leslie Jones. He represented Digby County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1867 to 1874. He served in the province's Executive Council as provincial secretary. In 1874, he was elected to the 3rd Canadian Parliament as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Digby. From 1874 to 1878, he was the Minister of Militia and Defence under Alexander Mackenzie. He resigned because of a conflict of interest in the 1877 but returned to parliament in 1882 where he served as an opposition MP until he lost his seat once again in the 1887 general election. He died in Dover, England.

His brother Edwin Arnold Vail served in the New Brunswick assembly.

References

• William Berrian Vail – Parliament of Canada biography
• "William Berrian Vail". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.