thomas chandler haliburton (december 17, 1796 – august 27, 1865) was a nova scotian politician, judge, and author. he made an important political contribution to the state of nova scotia before its entry into confederation of canada. he was the first international best-selling author of fiction from what is now canada. in 1856, he immigrated to england, where he served as a conservative member of parliament. he was the father of the british civil servant lord haliburton and of the anthropologist robert grant haliburton.