SCOTT, Richard William, Canadian senator, born in Prescott, Ontario, 24 February, 1825. He was educated in his native place, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1848. He was mayor of Ottawa in 1852, had a seat in the Canadian assembly from 1857 till 1863, and in the Ontario assembly from 1867 till November, 1873, when he resigned. Mr. Scott was elected speaker of the Ontario assembly, 7 December, 1871, but resigned on being appointed a member of the executive council and commissioner of crown lands for that province on the 21st of the same month. He retained this office till 7 November, 1873, when he was sworn as a member of the queen's privy council. He was secretary of state in the Mackenzie administration from 9 January, 1874, till October, 1878, when he went out of power with his colleagues in office. He acted as minister of finance during the absence of Richard J. Cartright in England in 1874, as minister of inland revenue during the illness of Felix Geoffrion in 1875-'6, and as minister of justice during the absence of Edward Blake in England in 1876. He was present at the Centennial exhibition at Philadelphia in the latter year in an official capacity. Mr. Scott was principally instrumental in securing the passage of the separate school law of the province of Ontario, and the Canada temperance act, which was framed by him, and which is known as the " Scott act." He became a member of the Dominion senate, 13 March, 1874, and has been active as a leader of the Liberal opposition in that body.