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Silver Tray, First Clerk of the Senate

This silver tray belonged to John Fennings Taylor Sr., the first ever Clerk of the Senate. 

The Clerk of the Senate is the Upper Chamber’s chief table officer and adviser on procedure. The Clerk supports the smooth operation of Senate sittings and provides procedural advice to the Speaker of the Senate and all senators. The Clerk of the Senate is second in rank among chief officers of the public service, after the Clerk of the Privy Council.

Mr. Fennings Taylor was appointed Clerk of the Senate in 1867 by Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, following a long career in government service. The Englishman clerked for the Senate until 1871 and was presented that year with the silver tray in honour of his nearly 50 years of public service. He died in 1876.

The tray was donated to the Senate by Sue Weller, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Mr. Fennings Taylor. The inscription, engraved on the tray’s centre, includes a line of Latin that means, “He obtains whatever he seeks.” In full, the inscription reads:

Consequiter Quodcunque Petit
John Fennings Taylor Esquire
Clerk of the Senate
of Canada
A parting remembrance from the
Officers, clerks and messengers
of the Senate
on his retirement from office.
After a Public Service of nearly 50 yrs.
Ottawa 1 February 1871

 

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