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MacCoy, William Frederick, Q.C., Barrister, M.P.P. for Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Halifax, is a native of Ireland, he having been born at Lysrian, in the county of Longford, on the 15th May, 1840. His father, Thomas MacCoy, emigrated to Nova Scotia when William was only eight years of age. His mother, of whom he has no personal knowledge, died a few hours after giving birth to her boy; and his father died about twenty-four years ago. William Frederick MacCoy commenced his educational studies at the National School in Halifax, and graduated at Sackville Academy, New Brunswick. He adopted law as a profession, and was called to the bar of Nova Scotia, in 1864. On the 11th October, 1880, he was appointed a Queen’s counsel. He practised his profession in Shelburne for about nine years, and then removed to Halifax, and is now the head of the firm of MacCoy, Pearson, Morrison, and Forbes, barristers, notaries and solicitors in Admiralty. The firm does a large and lucrative law business. He was elected one of the aldermen of the city of Halifax, in 1881, and in 1882 was offered the position of attorney-general in the Liberal government of that day, but declined the honour, considering that his colleague had a prior claim. Mr. MacCoy was an unsuccessful candidate for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia at the general election of 1878, but at the next general election, he succeeded in securing his election by 247 of a majority, and in January, 1887, he was again elected to his old seat. He is a Liberal in politics, and in religion an adherent of the Methodist church. In 1864, he received a commission as captain in the militia, and takes a lively interest in our citizen soldiers. The year after he joined the Masonic order, and is now a past master of St. Andrew’s lodge, Halifax. He, we are glad to say, is a strong temperance man, and for years, has taken a deep interest in the advancement of temperance legislature, and is the author of the present Temperance Act of Nova Scotia. He is a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars, and his eminent legal knowledge renders him a very useful member of his lodge, when constitutional questions come up for discussion. In the legislature he has won a position of prominence, and has aided in shaping to a great extent the progressive measures introduced of late years, and is one of the recognized leaders of his party. On the 14th July, 1868, he was married to Maud L., daughter of Robert P. Woodill, merchant, Shelburne, and has a family of two children.