born: Gagetown, New Brunswick, 8 May 1818
died: St. John, New Brunswick, 25 June 1896
representing: New Brunswick
position: Pro-Confederation

Born the son of United Empire Loyalists Samuel Leonard Tilley was educated in Gagetown and had humble beginnings as a drugstore clerk. At the age of 20 he struck out on his own with a drugstore business in Saint John.

From business he eventually became interested in politics and managed to win a seat in the New Brunswick Assembly. Tilley served in the Assembly during much of the time between 1850-67 and served as provincial secretary under Charles Fisher's first responsible government in New Brunswick. He would also be the next premier after Fisher.

An ardent teetotaller he pushed for prohibition from his seat in parliament. Tilley also had strong interests in railway development and encouraged New Brunswickers to accept Confederation. In 1865 he was defeated on a Confederation vote and in 1867 he resigned from the Liberal cabinet. After his resignation Tilley served as John A. Macdonald's minister of customs in the first federal government.