David Russell Jack (5 May 1864, Saint John, New Brunswick–2 December 1913, Clifton Springs, New York) was a Canadian author, editor, publisher, and politician.[1]
Jack's family were loyalists who settled in New Brunswick.[1] Jack attended the Saint John Grammar School, graduating in 1881.[1] In 1883 he published his Centennial prize essay on the history of the city and county of St. John, which was greatly acclaimed.[1]
In 1884, following the death of his father, Jack took over the family insurance business and also inherited his father's position as Spanish vice-consul.[1] In the decade which followed he served his city on the Common Council as well as the Board of School Trustees.[1] Some of his political accomplishments included the introduction of electric street lighting in Saint John, preparation for Prince George's 1901 visit, and the 1910 erection of the city's Champlain Monument.[1][2]
From 1901 until 1908 Jack published Acadiensis, a quarterly journal of the history of the Maritime provinces.[1] Jack also contributed to the Montreal Daily Star, the University Magazine (Montreal) and the Queen’s Quarterly (Kingston).[1] Jack accumulated an excellent collection of historical documents related to the Maritimes.[2] Many of these were donated to the city library.[2]
Jack died in 1913 at a sanatorium in New York where he was being treated for heart disease.[1]