Hon. Samuel Leonard Tilley Copyright

Tilley was born at Gagetown, New Brunswick, on May 8, 1818. He became a pharmacist when he was 20 and ran a successful shop called "Tilley's Drug Store". Tilley became interested in politics and fought for responsible government. He became premier in 1861 and was responsible for bringing New Brunswick into Confederation.

Tilley wanted New Brunswick to join Canada, but after he returned from talks with Canadian leaders he learned the people of New Brunswick were against Confederation. He lost the next election because the public didn't want New Brunswick to join Canada. However, a year later the people had changed their minds about Confederation. In a new election Tilley won and became premier again.

Tilley was finally able to bring New Brunswick into Confederation. When New Brunswick became part of Canada, Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald invited Tilley to be a member of the federal government. Tilley held several important jobs in the government, and later became the lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick in 1873. He retired in 1893 and died on June 25, 1896.