Richard Chapman Weldon

He was born in Sussex, New Brunswick, the son of Richard Chapman Weldon and Catherine Geldart. He was educated at Mount Allison Wesleyan College and taught school for two years. Weldon returned to Mount Allison, receiving an M.A. in economics. He went on to study at Yale College, where he received a PhD in political science in 1872, and Rupert Charles University in Germany.

In 1875, he returned to Mount Allison as professor of mathematics and political economy. In 1883, he became professor of law at Dalhousie University and helped establish the law school there. In 1884, he was called to the Nova Scotia bar. In 1887, Weldon, who owned property in New Brunswick, was elected to the House of Commons. Weldon married Louisa Frances Hare in 1893 after the death of his first wife. He helped developed legislation which established conditions for extradition of American fugitives in Canada convicted of crimes in the United States, then referred to as the Weldon Act. Weldon was unsuccessful in bids for reelection in 1896, 1900 and 1906.

On November 26, 1925, he died in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia at the age of 76.

On July 11, 1877, he married Sarah Maria Tuttle and they remained married until her death in 1892.[1] He then married Louisa Frances Hare on December 28, 1893. His grandson, Richard L. Weldon, was a provincial politician and lawyer.

Dalhousie Law School established the Weldon Award in 1983 to recognize outstanding accomplishment by a graduate.

• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
• Richard Chapman Weldon – Parliament of Canada biography