Career
He represented Cumberland County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1867 to 1871 and in 1874 as a Liberal member. He was born in Westchester, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, the son of David Purdy and Mary Griffin, and the grandson of Gabriel Purdy, a United Empire Loyalist. He was educated at the Sackville Academy.
Purdy served as census commissioner for the province in 1870.
He was elected to the provincial assembly a second time in 1874 but resigned his seat in March 1875.
