In 1846, Haviland was called to the bar. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island for Georgetown and Royalty in 1846 and served until 1876. Haviland served in the provincial Executive Council from 1859 to 1862, from 1865 to 1867 and from 1870 to 1872. From 1863 to 1864, he was speaker for the assembly. He was also a colonel in the local militia. Haviland served as the thirdLieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island from 1879 to 1884. In 1886, he became mayor of Charlottetown after the death of Henry Beer, serving until 1893 when he retired due to poor health.[4]
Personal life and death
Haviland married Anne Elizabeth Grubbe on January 5, 1847;[3] they had seven children, two of whom died during infancy.[5]
Haviland died in Charlottetown on September 11, 1895.[3]