William Wilfred Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Sir William Wilfred Sullivan (December 6, 1839 – September 30, 1920) was a Prince Edward Island
journalist, politician and jurist, the fourth premier of Prince Edward Island
.
A native of Hope River, Sullivan had a career as an assistant editor at the Charlottetown Herald as well as a lawyer before being elected to the provincial legislature
in 1872 as a Liberal MLA
.
A staunch Catholic, Sullivan became leader of the opposition in 1877 to the Protestant coalition government
of Louis Henry Davies
which had been formed to implement a public, secular school system that denied funding to Roman Catholic separate school
s. Sullivan reorganised the Conservative Party and was asked by the lieutenant governor
to become premier once Davies' coalition broke up and became unable to command a majority
in the assembly.
Sullivan served as premier for ten years and fought for PEI's rights in the dominion of Canada. He protested the federal government's failure to fulfill the terms of confederation
on which the island had joined the dominion in 1873. In 1886, he petitioned the Imperial government
in London protesting Canada's delinquency in respect to promises to ensure communication lines between the island and the rest of the country but the problem remained unresolved until the 1900s.
In 1889, Sullivan was appointed chief justice
of PEI and served in that position until his retirement in 1917. In 1914 he was knight
ed by King George V.
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
journalist, politician and jurist, the fourth premier of Prince Edward Island
Premier of Prince Edward Island
The Premier of Prince Edward Island is the first minister for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive.The current Premier of Prince Edward Island is Robert Ghiz.-See also:...
.
A native of Hope River, Sullivan had a career as an assistant editor at the Charlottetown Herald as well as a lawyer before being elected to the provincial legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
in 1872 as a Liberal MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
.
A staunch Catholic, Sullivan became leader of the opposition in 1877 to the Protestant coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
of Louis Henry Davies
Louis Henry Davies
Sir Louis Henry Davies, was a Prince Edward Island lawyer, businessman and politician, the third Premier...
which had been formed to implement a public, secular school system that denied funding to Roman Catholic separate school
Separate school
In Canada, separate school refers to a particular type of school that has constitutional status in three provinces and statutory status in three territories...
s. Sullivan reorganised the Conservative Party and was asked by the lieutenant governor
Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island
The Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island is the viceregal representative in Prince Edward Island of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her...
to become premier once Davies' coalition broke up and became unable to command a majority
Majority government
A majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
in the assembly.
Sullivan served as premier for ten years and fought for PEI's rights in the dominion of Canada. He protested the federal government's failure to fulfill the terms of confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
on which the island had joined the dominion in 1873. In 1886, he petitioned the Imperial government
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
in London protesting Canada's delinquency in respect to promises to ensure communication lines between the island and the rest of the country but the problem remained unresolved until the 1900s.
In 1889, Sullivan was appointed chief justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of PEI and served in that position until his retirement in 1917. In 1914 he was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed by King George V.