Robert Read, of the Dominion Senate, is the eldest son of Robert Read, senior, in his day an extensive farmer, in the county of Suffolk, England, and was born at Fressingfield, in that county, December 11, 1814. He was educated at Laxfield, in his native county; came to Canada in 1836, settled at Belleville, and engaged in general business, tanning, distilling, and agricultural pursuits, being an extensive farmer for twenty-five or thirty years; he has been a director of the Grand Trunk railway, and is one of the most energetic business men of that part of the Province of Ontario. His business now is agriculture.
Mr. Read sat for “Quinte” division in the Legislative Council of Canada from October, 1862, until the union in 1867. He represented East Hastings in the House of Commons, from the union until called to the Senate, February 24, 1871, his politics being Conservative. In 1876 he moved the first resolution affirming the national policy, and in 1877 he introduced the Bill, prohibiting the carrying concealed fire arms on the person, a measure carried through by Mr. Blake.
July 2, 1840, Mr. Read was married, at Montreal, to Miss Margaret Campion, and they have had six children, three of them now living. Adelaide Eliza is the wife of Albert Campion, of Belleville, and Caroline and Robert J. are at home.
