Born in Amherst, educated at Windsor Academy, and called to the bar in 1834, Dickey practiced law in Amherst and sat in the Legislative Council of Nova Scotia (1858-67). A Father of Confederation, he attended both the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences but refused to subscribe to the Quebec Resolutions until more generous financial terms were conceded in 1866. A widely-travelled and successful Amherst businessman he gave general support to the Conservative Party but played a minor political role. He was called to the Senate in 1867. He died in Amherst.