Q. Who was Patrick Power?

Patrick Power (1815-1881) was born in Ireland and immigrated to Nova Scotia with his parents in 1823. He was a merchant, a politician, and "well respected in the community. His chief contribution to public life was through his active membership in numerous associations, and his work on various boards and commissions dealing with education and the welfare of the poor and destitute" (Flemming, 1982, para.7).

Saint Mary's University began receiving donations from his estate in 1913. When a new, larger library was built in 1975, it was named the Patrick Power Library in his honour.

For more information, check out the full entry in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, the listing on the Parliament of Canada site, and the display case on the first floor of the Library near the ID Centre.

Flemming, D.B, (1982). Power, Patrick. In Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Retrieved from http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/power_patrick_11E.html