Daniel J. Greene
Encyclopedia
Daniel Joseph Greene was a Newfoundland politician who briefly served as the colony
's Premier
.
A native of St. John's
, he studied law at Laval University
and became a lawyer. Daniel Greene was first elected to the House of Assembly
in 1875 and became Leader of the Opposition
in 1887. In 1889 he became a minister in the government of Liberal Premier Sir William Whiteway
. A year after the controversial 1893 elections Whiteway's government was dismissed by the governor
Arthur Murray
due to petitions alleging corrupt electoral practices. Murray appointed Tory leader Augustus F. Goodridge
as the new premier and helped the minority government
stay in office. However, Goodridge resigned in December 1894 after the collapse of two banks.
Greene had become acting Liberal leader due to the disbarment of Whiteway from holding electoral office. On December 13, 1894, following the collapse of Goodridge's government, Greene was sworn in as premier.
Green's government promptly passed the Disabilities Removal Act allowing candidates who had been disqualified because of election irregularities in 1893 to seek election again. Specifically, it allowed Whiteway to return as Premier which occurred on February 8, 1895 when Greene resigned.
He died in St. John's in 1911.
His nephew Joseph M. Greene
also served in the Newfoundland House of Assembly.
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
's Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
.
A native 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...
, he studied law at Laval University
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
and became a lawyer. Daniel Greene was first elected to 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 1875 and became Leader of the Opposition
Opposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
in 1887. In 1889 he became a minister in the government of Liberal Premier Sir William Whiteway
William Whiteway
Sir William Vallance Whiteway, QC KCMG was a politician and three time Premier of Newfoundland. Born in England, Whiteway emigrated to the island in 1843 and entered the law in 1852. In 1859 he was elected to the House of Assembly as a member of the Conservative Party of Newfoundland and became a...
. A year after the controversial 1893 elections Whiteway's government was dismissed by the governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Arthur Murray
Arthur Murray
Arthur Murray was a dance instructor and businessman, whose name is most often associated with the dance studio chain that bears his name....
due to petitions alleging corrupt electoral practices. Murray appointed Tory leader Augustus F. Goodridge
Augustus F. Goodridge
Augustus Frederick Goodridge was a Newfoundland merchant and politician. Born in Devon, Goodridge arrived in Newfoundland when he was 13 and worked in his father's business and later became a fish merchant in St. John's. A Conservative, he was first elected to the House of Assembly in 1880...
as the new premier and helped the minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
stay in office. However, Goodridge resigned in December 1894 after the collapse of two banks.
Greene had become acting Liberal leader due to the disbarment of Whiteway from holding electoral office. On December 13, 1894, following the collapse of Goodridge's government, Greene was sworn in as premier.
Green's government promptly passed the Disabilities Removal Act allowing candidates who had been disqualified because of election irregularities in 1893 to seek election again. Specifically, it allowed Whiteway to return as Premier which occurred on February 8, 1895 when Greene resigned.
He died in St. John's in 1911.
His nephew Joseph M. Greene
Joseph Greene (Newfoundland politician)
Joseph M. Greene was an accountant and political figure in Newfoundland. He represented Bell Island in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1928 to 1932 as a Liberal....
also served in the Newfoundland House of Assembly.