Fathers of Confederation, Part 4

J. Ambrose Shea (Newfoundland) was born in Saint John's, Newfoundland, September 17, 1815. He was first elected to Parliament in 1848. He became Speaker of the House and then Colonial Secretary in 1855. He was a Leader of the opposition who went to Quebec for the conference. Confederation wasn't very popular on the Rock and therefore it had to wait a while (how about 82 years, eh?). He died in London, England, July 30, 1905.

William Henry Steeves (New Brunswick) was born in Hillsborough, NB, May 20, 1814. He became a MLA in 1846. He was a main guy when it came to the building of the railways that were so popular in New Brunswick at the time. He was a unionist even though his part was limited in confederation. He became a Senator in 1867. He died in Saint John, NB, December 9, 1873.

Sir Etienne-Paschal Taché (Canada) was born in St. Thomas de Montmagny, Lower Canada, September 5, 1795. He was the oldest Father of Confederation. He was first elected to the Legislature of the United Canadas in 1841. In 1856, he became Premier of Canada East and joint Head of Government in Canada with MacDonald. He had a great military career. He was asked to preside over the Quebec conference. He died July 30, 1865.

Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley (New Brunswick) was born in Gagetown, New Brunswick, May 8, 1818 of American Loyalist background. After being a businessman he became a politician winning a seat in the New Brunswick Assembly. He served in Charles Fisher's government and then became premier. He tried to sell confederation but the vote for confederation in 1865 was defeated as well as Tilley in the next election. In 1873 he became Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick. He died June 25, 1896.

Sir Charles Tupper (Nova Scotia) was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, July 2, 1821. In 1855, Tupper ran against the father of responsible government, Joseph Howe, and won, becoming Premier. He brought Nova Scotia into confederation, mainly against its will, and became part of the Cabinet, only to step down with McGee to help MacDonald's problems of representation in the Cabinet. He was knighted in 1879 and became High Commissioner of Canada in 1883. He died in Kent, England, October 30, 1915.

Edward Whelan (Prince Edward Island) was born in Ireland in 1824. He moved to Halifax and was influenced by his boss, Joseph Howe, to create his own reformist newspaper in Prince Edward Island. He was elected to Legislature in 1846. He was pro-union with the other provinces and was saddened that confederation was rejected. He died in 1867.

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