Thomas Chandler Haliburton (December 17, 1796 - 1865) was one of the first major Canadian authors.

Haliburton was born in Windsor, Nova Scotia to an upper class family. He attended King's College, Halifax and became a lawyer, opening a practice in Annapolis Royal.

Haliburton became noted local business man and a judge, but his great fame came from his writing. Haliburton wrote a diverse number of books on history, politics, and farm improvement. He rose to world wide fame with his Clockmaker serial that first appeared in the Novascotian and was later published in book form throughout the British Empire. The books recounted the humourous adventures of the character Sam Slick and became extremely popular light reading.

Haliburton eventually retired from law and moved to England where he continued writing and died there in 1865.

Works:

  • A General Description of Nova Scotia - 1823
  • An Historical and Statistical Account of Nova Scotia - 1829
  • The Clockmaker - 1836
  • The Clockmaker, 2nd Series - 1838
  • The Bubbles of Canada - 1839
  • A Reply to the Report of the Earl of Durham - 1839
  • The Clockmaker, 3rd Series - 1840
  • The Old Judge, Or Life in a Colony - 1849
  • The English in America - 1851
  • Rule and Misrule in English America - 1851