# Pictou (provincial electoral district)

Pictou was a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that, at the time of its dissolution, elected two members to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. It existed from 1867 to 1949, at which time Pictou County was divided into the three electoral districts of: Pictou East, Pictou West, and Pictou Centre.

## Members of the Legislative Assembly

Pictou elected the following members to the Legislature:
| Legislature | Years | Member | Member | Party | Member | Party |
| 43rd | 1947–1949 | seat declared vacant | seat declared vacant | seat declared vacant | Alfred B. DeWolfe | Liberal |
| 43rd | 1945–1947 | | Josiah H. MacQuarrie | Liberal | Alfred B. DeWolfe | Liberal |
| 42nd | 1941–1945 | | Josiah H. MacQuarrie | Liberal | Ernest G. Irish | Progressive Conservative |
| 41st | 1937–1941 | | Josiah H. MacQuarrie | Liberal | Newton G. Munro | Liberal |
| 40th | 1933–1937 | | Josiah H. MacQuarrie | Liberal | Donald F. Fraser | Liberal |
Prior to 1933, Pictou elected three members to the Nova Scotia Legislature:
| Legislature | Years | Member | Party | Member | Party | Member | Party |
| 39th | 1928–1933 | John Doull | Liberal Conservative | Hugh A. MacQuarrie | Liberal Conservative | Robert A. Douglas | Liberal Conservative |
| 38th | 1925–1928 | John Doull | Liberal Conservative | Hugh A. MacQuarrie | Liberal Conservative | Robert A. Douglas | Liberal Conservative |
| 37th | 1920–1925 | Robert M. McGregor | Liberal | John W. Macdonald | Liberal | Robert Henry Graham | Liberal |
| 36th | 1916–1920 | Robert M. McGregor | Liberal | Robert Hugh MacKay | Liberal | Robert Henry Graham | Liberal |
| 35th | 1911–1916 | Robert M. McGregor | Liberal | Robert Hugh MacKay | Liberal | Charles E. Tanner | Liberal Conservative |
| 34th | 1909–1911 | Robert M. McGregor | Liberal | Robert Hugh MacKay | Liberal | John M. Baillie | Liberal Conservative |
| 34th | 1906–1909 | Robert M. McGregor | Liberal | Charles E. Tanner | Liberal Conservative | John M. Baillie | Liberal Conservative |
| 33rd | 1904–1906 | Robert M. McGregor | Liberal | Charles E. Tanner | Liberal Conservative | Edward M. Macdonald | Liberal |
| 33rd | 1901–1904 | George Patterson | Liberal | Charles E. Tanner | Liberal Conservative | Edward M. Macdonald | Liberal |
| 32nd | 1900–1901 | Matthew Fitzpatrick | Liberal Conservative | Charles E. Tanner | Liberal Conservative | Edward M. Macdonald | Liberal |
| 32nd | 1897–1900 | Matthew Fitzpatrick | Liberal Conservative | James D. McGregor | Liberal | Edward M. Macdonald | Liberal |
| 31st | 1894–1897 | William Cameron | Liberal Conservative | Charles E. Tanner | Liberal Conservative | Alexander Grant | Liberal Conservative |
| 30th | 1890–1894 | William Cameron | Liberal Conservative | James D. McGregor | Liberal | Alexander Grant | Liberal Conservative |
| 29th | 1887–1890 | William Cameron | Liberal Conservative | Jeffrey McColl | Liberal | Charles H. Munro | Liberal Conservative |
| 29th | 1886–1887 | Adam Carr Bell | Liberal Conservative | Jeffrey McColl | Liberal | Charles H. Munro | Liberal Conservative |
| 28th | 1882–1886 | Adam Carr Bell | Liberal Conservative | Robert Hockin | Liberal Conservative | Charles H. Munro | Liberal Conservative |
| 27th | 1878–1882 | Adam Carr Bell | Liberal Conservative | Simon Hugh Holmes | Liberal Conservative | Alexander MacKay | Liberal Conservative |
| 26th | 1874–1878 | Hugh J. Cameron | Liberal Conservative | Simon Hugh Holmes | Liberal Conservative | Alexander MacKay | Liberal Conservative |
| 25th | 1872–1874 | Hugh J. Cameron | Liberal Conservative | Simon Hugh Holmes | Liberal Conservative | Alexander MacKay | Liberal Conservative |
| 25th | 1871–1872 | Hugh J. Cameron | Liberal Conservative | Simon Hugh Holmes | Liberal Conservative | James McDonald | Liberal Conservative |
| 24th | 1867–1871 | Robert S. Copeland | Anti-Confederation | George Murray | Anti-Confederation | Martin Isaac Wilkins | Anti-Confederation |

## Election results
### 1867

1867 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | George Murray | 2,019 | 18.45% |
| | Liberal | Robert S. Copeland | 1,977 | 18.06% |
| | Liberal | Martin Isaac Wilkins | 1,968 | 17.98% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Simon Hugh Holmes | 1,684 | 15.38% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Donald Fraser | 1,649 | 15.06% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Alexander McKay | 1,649 | 15.06% |
| Total | Total | Total | 10,946 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1871

1871 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal–Conservative | James McDonald | 2,270 | 18.21% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Simon Hugh Holmes | 2,242 | 17.98% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Hugh J. Campbell | 2,188 | 17.55% |
| | Liberal | George Murray | 1,955 | 15.68% |
| | Liberal | John D. McLeod | 1,927 | 15.46% |
| | Liberal | Robert S. Copeland | 1,884 | 15.11% |
| Total | Total | Total | 12,466 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1874

1874 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Hugh J. Cameron | Acclaimed | |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Simon Hugh Holmes | Acclaimed | |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Alexander MacKay | Acclaimed | |
| Total | Total | Total | | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1878

1878 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Simon Hugh Holmes | 2,752 | 18.57% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Adam Carr Bell | 2,694 | 18.18% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Alexander MacKay | 2,592 | 17.49% |
| | Liberal | George Murray | 2,349 | 15.85% |
| | Liberal | John D. McLeod | 2,250 | 15.18% |
| | Liberal | Robert McNeil | 2,183 | 14.73% |
| Total | Total | Total | 14,820 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1882

1882 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Robert Hockin | 2,492 | 17.41% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Charles H. Munro | 2,489 | 17.39% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Adam Carr Bell | 2,473 | 17.28% |
| | Liberal | Jeffrey McColl | 2,411 | 16.84% |
| | Liberal | Rodney MacDonald | 2,250 | 15.72% |
| | Liberal | Cornelius Dwyer | 2,200 | 15.37% |
| Total | Total | Total | 14,315 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1886

1886 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Adam Carr Bell | 2,844 | 18.22% |
| | Liberal | Jeffrey McColl | 2,606 | 16.70% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Charles H. Munro | 2,578 | 16.52% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Robert Hockin | 2,565 | 16.44% |
| | Liberal | John D. McLeod | 2,514 | 16.11% |
| | Liberal | Robert Drummond | 2,498 | 16.01% |
| Total | Total | Total | 15,605 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1890

1890 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal–Conservative | William Cameron | 2,897 | 17.05% |
| | Liberal | James Drummond McGregor | 2,885 | 16.98% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Alexander Grant | 2,883 | 16.97% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Charles Elliott Tanner | 2,835 | 16.68% |
| | Liberal | Robert Drummond | 2,764 | 16.27% |
| | Liberal | John Yorston | 2,728 | 16.05% |
| Total | Total | Total | 16,992 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1894

1894 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal–Conservative | William Cameron | 3,254 | 17.93% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Charles Elliott Tanner | 3,236 | 17.83% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Alexander Grant | 3,109 | 17.13% |
| | Liberal | James Drummond McGregor | 2,992 | 16.49% |
| | Liberal | Edward Mortimer Macdonald | 2,797 | 15.41% |
| | Liberal | J. F. Oliver | 2,759 | 15.20% |
| Total | Total | Total | 18,147 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1897

1897 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | James Drummond McGregor | 3,456 | 17.24% |
| | Liberal | Edward Mortimer Macdonald | 3,422 | 17.07% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Matthew Henry Fitzpatrick | 3,314 | 16.53% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Charles Elliott Tanner | 3,299 | 16.46% |
| | Liberal | John McIntosh | 3,290 | 16.41% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | William Cameron | 3,262 | 16.28% |
| Total | Total | Total | 20,043 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1901

1901 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Edward Mortimer Macdonald | 3,703 | 20.61% |
| | Liberal | George Patterson | 3,534 | 19.67% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Charles Elliott Tanner | 3,186 | 17.73% |
| | Liberal | Robert Dewar | 3,157 | 17.57% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | George E. Munro | 3,011 | 16.76% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | William Cameron | 1,377 | 7.66% |
| Total | Total | Total | 17,968 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1906

1906 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Charles Elliott Tanner | 3,983 | 18.19% |
| | Liberal | Robert M. McGregor | 3,832 | 17.50% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | John M. Baillie | 3,617 | 16.52% |
| | Liberal | Robert Hugh MacKay | 3,546 | 16.19% |
| | Liberal | George Patterson | 3,546 | 16.19% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | George E. Munro | 3,372 | 15.40% |
| Total | Total | Total | 21,896 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1911

1911 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Robert M. McGregor | 3,929 | 17.39% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Charles Elliott Tanner | 3,788 | 16.76% |
| | Liberal | Robert Hugh MacKay | 3,725 | 16.49% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | John M. Baillie | 3,591 | 15.89% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | S. G. Robertson | 3,428 | 15.17% |
| | Liberal | Arthur W. MacKenzie | 3,299 | 14.60% |
| | Labour | P. P. Cosgrove | 835 | 3.70% |
| Total | Total | Total | 22,595 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1916

1916 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Robert M. McGregor | 4,555 | 17.68% |
| | Liberal | Robert Henry Graham | 4,512 | 17.52% |
| | Liberal | Robert Hugh MacKay | 4,309 | 16.73% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | John W. McKay | 4,210 | 16.34% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Charles Elliott Tanner | 4,165 | 16.17% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | J. William Sutherland | 3,557 | 13.81% |
| | Labour | John B. Strickland | 450 | 1.75% |
| Total | Total | Total | 25,758 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1920

1920 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Robert Henry Graham | 6,696 | 17.45% |
| | Liberal | John Welsford MacDonald | 6,287 | 16.38% |
| | Liberal | Robert M. McGregor | 6,056 | 15.78% |
| | Labour | Hyland Fraser | 6,012 | 15.66% |
| | United Farmers | Alexander D. MacKay | 5,984 | 15.59% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | John Bell | 4,416 | 11.51% |
| | Labour | Bertha A. Donaldson | 2,930 | 7.63% |
| Total | Total | Total | 38,381 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1925

1925 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal–Conservative | John Doull | 9,432 | 20.55% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Robert Albert Douglas | 9,053 | 19.73% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Hugh Allan MacQuarrie | 9,043 | 19.71% |
| | Liberal | Archibald McColl | 5,591 | 12.18% |
| | Liberal | John Welsford MacDonald | 5,464 | 11.91% |
| | Liberal | George W. Whitman | 5,332 | 11.62% |
| | Labour | William Murray | 695 | 1.51% |
| | Labour | J. Gordon Calkin | 668 | 1.46% |
| | Labour | Joseph White | 610 | 1.33% |
| Total | Total | Total | 45,888 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1928

1928 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal–Conservative | John Doull | 7,836 | 18.21% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Robert Albert Douglas | 7,572 | 17.59% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Hugh Allan MacQuarrie | 7,249 | 16.84% |
| | Liberal | Donald F. Fraser | 7,052 | 16.38% |
| | Liberal | A. T. Logan | 6,836 | 15.88% |
| | Liberal | Clifford E. Carruthers | 6,498 | 15.10% |
| Total | Total | Total | 43,043 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. |||||||

### 1933

1933 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Josiah H. MacQuarrie | 10,887 | 28.15% |
| | Liberal | Donald F. Fraser | 10,377 | 26.83% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | John W. MacLeod | 8,861 | 22.91% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | John Doull | 8,546 | 22.10% |
| Total | Total | Total | 38,671 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1933). Legislature of Nova Scotia Election Returns (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||

### 1937

1937 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Josiah H. MacQuarrie | 10,149 | 27.34% | -27.64% |
| | Liberal | Newton G. Munro | 9,637 | 25.96% | -29.02% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | John A. MacGregor | 8,890 | 23.95% | -21.06% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Rod H. MacLeod | 8,441 | 22.74% | -22.27% |
| Total | Total | Total | 37,117 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1937). Legislature of Nova Scotia Election Returns (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||

### 1941

1941 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Josiah H. MacQuarrie | 8,780 | 26.89% | -26.42% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Ernest G. Irish | 8,256 | 25.28% | -21.41% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | W. Thomas Hayden | 8,055 | 24.67% | -22.02% |
| | Liberal | Newton G. Munro | 7,562 | 23.16% | -30.15% |
| Total | Total | Total | 32,653 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1941). Legislature of Nova Scotia Election Returns (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||

### 1945

1945 Nova Scotia general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Josiah H. MacQuarrie | 10,031 | 27.61% | -22.43% |
| | Liberal | Alfred B. DeWolfe | 9,020 | 24.83% | -25.22% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | Ernest G. Irish | 7,061 | 19.44% | -30.51% |
| | Liberal–Conservative | John A. MacGregor | 6,704 | 18.46% | -31.50% |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | Donald L. Nicholson | 1,688 | 4.65% | – |
| | Co-operative Commonwealth | G. Miller Dick | 1,576 | 4.34% | – |
| | Independent | George J. White | 245 | 0.67% | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 36,325 | – |
| Source(s) Source: Nova Scotia Legislature (2021). "Electoral History for Pictou County" (PDF). nslegislature.ca. Nova Scotia Legislature (1945). Legislature of Nova Scotia Election Returns (PDF). Queen's Printer. |||||||