George Shea
Encyclopedia
George Edward Shea was a Canadian politician who served as the first mayor of St. John's
, Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada
. Born in St. John's, son of Gertrude (Corbett) and Edward D. Shea
. Educated St. John's; Ampleforth College
, England. Married (1) Louisa Pinsent; (2) Margaret Rendell.
In 1870 George joined the family business as a clerk. Shea and Company were shipping agents for Royal Mail Steamships, the Allan Line and the Ross Steamship Line. In 1887, when his uncle Ambrose Shea
was appointed governor of the Bahamas, George succeeded him as managing partner in the firm. He was later an agent for the North British Mercantile Insurance Company
and a member of the Newfoundland Board of Revenue.
Shea's political career began in 1885 when he ran as a Liberal in Ferryland
, a district his father had also represented. He was elected by acclamation as a supporter of Ambrose Shea, who led the Catholic-Liberal party in a highly sectarian contest. George was re-elected as an independent in 1889, but was defeated by Liberal candidates Michael Cashin and Daniel Greene
in 1893. Again elected MHA
for Ferryland
in 1897, Shea served for two years as minister without portfolio
in the government of Sir James Spearman Winter
. In 1902 Shea was elected as the first mayor of St. John's
. During his term he implemented improvements to the water system and brought the city's finances under control. He continued as mayor until 1906, having meanwhile re-entered the House of Assembly
in 1904 as the Liberal representative for the district of St. John's East
.
George was minister without portfolio in the government of Sir Robert Bond
from 1904 to 1909 and was re-elected in 1908 and 1909. After Bond resisted invitations to return to public life in 1917 and 1918 Shea endorsed Richard Squires
and the Liberal Reform Party
. George retired from business in 1919 and the following year was appointed by Squires to the Legislative Council
. He occasionally served as acting Prime Minister
in Squire's absence.
While a member for St. George's (1887-1900) Gibbs established a reputation as an advocate of trade unionism and as a skilled negotiator on behalf of labour. He was instrumental in launching the Longshoremen's Protective Union (LSPU) in 1903 and remained LSPU counsel until his death. Gibbs also helped St. John's bakers and carpenters to organize, and he became Mayor of St. John's in 1906 as a Labour candidate.
When Edward Patrick Morris resigned from the Bond Administration Gibbs was offered Morris's cabinet post as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, but declined and joined Morris in forming the Newfoundland People's Party
. After defeats in the ensuing general elections of 1908 and 1909 Gibbs was appointed to the Legislative Council
and made Minister without portfolio in the Morris Administration, refusing further cabinet posts after Morris's resignation in 1918. Gibbs was appointed President of the Legislative Council in 1930, maintaining that position until 1934 when the council was disbanded.
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Born in St. John's, son of Gertrude (Corbett) and Edward D. Shea
Edward Dalton Shea
Hon. Sir Edward Dalton Shea K.C.M.G., was a journalist and political figure in Newfoundland. He represented Ferryland in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1855 to 1865 as a Liberal and then Conservative member.He was born in St. John's, the son of Henry Shea, an Irish-born...
. Educated St. John's; Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College
Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, England, is the largest Roman Catholic co-educational boarding independent school in the United Kingdom. It opened in 1802, as a boys' school, and is run by the Benedictine monks and lay staff of Ampleforth Abbey...
, England. Married (1) Louisa Pinsent; (2) Margaret Rendell.
In 1870 George joined the family business as a clerk. Shea and Company were shipping agents for Royal Mail Steamships, the Allan Line and the Ross Steamship Line. In 1887, when his uncle Ambrose Shea
Ambrose Shea
Sir Ambrose Shea, KCMG , from Newfoundland was a political and business figure in Colonial Newfoundland and later served as Governor of the Bahamas. He was one of two Newfoundland delegates to the Québec Conference that led to Canadian confederation.Shea was born in St. John's, Newfoundland...
was appointed governor of the Bahamas, George succeeded him as managing partner in the firm. He was later an agent for the North British Mercantile Insurance Company
North British and Mercantile Insurance
The North British and Mercantile Insurance Company was a British based company founded in 1809 in Edinburgh and absorbed as a subsidiary of the Commercial Union in 1959...
and a member of the Newfoundland Board of Revenue.
Shea's political career began in 1885 when he ran as a Liberal in Ferryland
Ferryland
Ferryland is a town in Newfoundland and Labrador on the Avalon Peninsula. According to the 2006 Statistics Canada census, its population is 529. Addresses in Ferryland use the alphanumerically lowest postal codes in Canada, starting with A0A....
, a district his father had also represented. He was elected by acclamation as a supporter of Ambrose Shea, who led the Catholic-Liberal party in a highly sectarian contest. George was re-elected as an independent in 1889, but was defeated by Liberal candidates Michael Cashin and Daniel Greene
Daniel Greene
Daniel Greene may refer to:*Daniel Greene , American fine artist*Daniel J. Greene, Canadian politician, premier of Newfoundland*Danny Greene , Irish-American gangster...
in 1893. Again elected MHA
MHA
MHA may refer to:* Master of Health Administration, a degree awarded by many American, European and Australian universities* Mast Head Amplifier, an amplifier mounted as close as practical to the antenna...
for Ferryland
Ferryland
Ferryland is a town in Newfoundland and Labrador on the Avalon Peninsula. According to the 2006 Statistics Canada census, its population is 529. Addresses in Ferryland use the alphanumerically lowest postal codes in Canada, starting with A0A....
in 1897, Shea served for two years as minister without portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
in the government of Sir James Spearman Winter
James Spearman Winter
Sir James Spearman Winter, KCMG was a Newfoundland politician and Premier. Winter served in the Conservative government of Sir William Whiteway as Solicitor-General from 1882 to 1885 when he resigned along with a number of other Protestants as a result of sectarian riots at Harbour Grace...
. In 1902 Shea was elected as the first mayor of St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
. During his term he implemented improvements to the water system and brought the city's finances under control. He continued as mayor until 1906, having meanwhile re-entered the House of Assembly
House of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level....
in 1904 as the Liberal representative for the district of St. John's East
St. John's East
St. John's East is a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1949....
.
George was minister without portfolio in the government of Sir Robert Bond
Robert Bond
Sir Robert Bond was the Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1900 to 1909. He was born in St. John's, Newfoundland, as the son of merchant John Bond. Bond grew up in St. John's until 1872 when his father died and left the family a good deal of money...
from 1904 to 1909 and was re-elected in 1908 and 1909. After Bond resisted invitations to return to public life in 1917 and 1918 Shea endorsed Richard Squires
Richard Squires
Sir Richard Anderson Squires KCMG was the Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1919 to 1923 and from 1928 to 1932.-Early career:...
and the Liberal Reform Party
Liberal Reform Party (Australia)
The Liberal Reform Party was an Australian political party, active in New South Wales state politics between 1901 and 1916. The question of tariff policy which, had created and divided the Free Trade Party and Protectionist Party in New South Wales in the 1890s, became a federal issue at the time...
. George retired from business in 1919 and the following year was appointed by Squires to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Newfoundland
The Legislative Council of Newfoundland was established in 1854 when the British Government granted a new constitution to Newfoundland establishing an Executive Council of not more than seven members of the majority party and a Legislative Council of not more than 15 members upon nomination of the...
. He occasionally served as acting Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
in Squire's absence.
While a member for St. George's (1887-1900) Gibbs established a reputation as an advocate of trade unionism and as a skilled negotiator on behalf of labour. He was instrumental in launching the Longshoremen's Protective Union (LSPU) in 1903 and remained LSPU counsel until his death. Gibbs also helped St. John's bakers and carpenters to organize, and he became Mayor of St. John's in 1906 as a Labour candidate.
When Edward Patrick Morris resigned from the Bond Administration Gibbs was offered Morris's cabinet post as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, but declined and joined Morris in forming the Newfoundland People's Party
Newfoundland People's Party
The Newfoundland People's Party was a political party in the Dominion of Newfoundland before it joined Canada.The party was created by Attorney-General Edward Patrick Morris in 1907, when he split from the ruling Liberal Party to found his own political vehicle...
. After defeats in the ensuing general elections of 1908 and 1909 Gibbs was appointed to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Newfoundland
The Legislative Council of Newfoundland was established in 1854 when the British Government granted a new constitution to Newfoundland establishing an Executive Council of not more than seven members of the majority party and a Legislative Council of not more than 15 members upon nomination of the...
and made Minister without portfolio in the Morris Administration, refusing further cabinet posts after Morris's resignation in 1918. Gibbs was appointed President of the Legislative Council in 1930, maintaining that position until 1934 when the council was disbanded.