Edward Whelan
Encyclopedia
Edward Whelan. Edward Whelan was one of Prince Edward Island
's delegates to the Québec Conference
and one of the Fathers of the Canadian Confederation
. Edward Whelan was also a journalist, orator, and advocate for responsible government.
, in Ireland
. At a young age (probably 10 years old), he and his mother moved to Halifax
, Nova Scotia
in 1831. Growing up in Halifax, he was greatly influenced by Joseph Howe
, where he worked as a printing apprentice, as well as Father Richard Baptist O’Brien
, a dynamic Irish priest who was a gifted orator as well as Whelan’s teacher at St. Mary’s School in Halifax. These two influences led Whelan to abandon his studies at the age of 18 to take up a position as editor of The Register, an Irish-Catholic, Liberal newspaper. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-2425-e.html
, P.E.I. hoping to start a new newspaper. His first attempt, The Spectator, failed. However, by June 1843 he began circulating The Palladium, which became the favoured paper of Irish Catholics living on Prince Edward Island
. This venture ended in May 1845 due to debts. Edward Whelan accused the Liberals of not supporting him enough. He threatened to leave PEI but ended up staying.
In the fall of 1846, Whelan sought to embark on yet another newspaper venture, namely the Examiner. This publication nearly failed, but he managed to keep it going.
Whelan then devoted much of 1850 to speak at meetings regarding the concept of responsible government
. This led to Whelan’s rise in stature and in April 1851, Whelan was named to the Executive Council and also appointed the Queen's Printer
.
Within this new government role, Whelan spent much of his time defending the major Liberal reforms regarding the Free Education Act, extension of the franchise, and the Land Purchase Act. These Liberal reforms were not without controversy, and Whelan took the brunt of the criticism.http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=38892
. Attending this conference made Whelan an even stronger proponent. Despite his advocacy, few politicians and residents were persuaded and Whelan became disillusioned.
as well as other issues, led him to become isolated within the Liberal party. In the election of 1867, Whelan was defeated for the first time in 21 years. There is no single cause for his defeat. He had lost support from his traditional supporters by denouncing the Tenant League and Fenianism. Moreover, his support of Confederation was unpopular with the people of PEI. On all three of these issues, his opponent, Edward Reilly
, had the edge.
However, Whelan believed that the defeat came from the disapproval of the newly-appointed cleric of St. Peters, Father William Phelan, a supporter of Reilly. Whelan felt that the clergy had unduly influenced the election.
Whelan felt very bitter about this defeat and by the autumn of 1867 his health slowly deteriorated. Whelan died on December 10, 1867.
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...
's delegates to the Québec Conference
Quebec Conference, 1864
The Quebec Conference was the second meeting held in 1864 to discuss Canadian Confederation.The 16 delegates from the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island had agreed at the close of the Charlottetown Conference to meet again at Quebec City October 1864...
and one of the Fathers of the Canadian 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...
. Edward Whelan was also a journalist, orator, and advocate for responsible government.
Early years
Edward Whelan was born in 1824 in Ballina, County MayoBallina, County Mayo
Ballina is a large town in north County Mayo in Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the River Moy near Killala Bay, in the Moy valley and Parish of Kilmoremoy, with the Ox Mountain range to the east and the Nephin Beg mountains to the west...
, in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. At a young age (probably 10 years old), he and his mother moved to Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
in 1831. Growing up in Halifax, he was greatly influenced by Joseph Howe
Joseph Howe
Joseph Howe, PC was a Nova Scotian journalist, politician, and public servant. He is one of Nova Scotia's greatest and best-loved politicians...
, where he worked as a printing apprentice, as well as Father Richard Baptist O’Brien
Richard Baptist O’Brien
Richard Baptist O'Brien was an Irish Roman Catholic priest, author and home ruler.-Biography:Born in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary O'Brien became a Home Ruler nationalist and an anti-liberal ultramontanist fashioned after Pope Pius IX. As a writer he contributed to the The Irish Catholic...
, a dynamic Irish priest who was a gifted orator as well as Whelan’s teacher at St. Mary’s School in Halifax. These two influences led Whelan to abandon his studies at the age of 18 to take up a position as editor of The Register, an Irish-Catholic, Liberal newspaper. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-2425-e.html
Journalism career
In early 1843, Whelan left the The Register as well as Nova Scotia. He moved at the age of 19 to CharlottetownCharlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, P.E.I. hoping to start a new newspaper. His first attempt, The Spectator, failed. However, by June 1843 he began circulating The Palladium, which became the favoured paper of Irish Catholics living on Prince Edward Island
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...
. This venture ended in May 1845 due to debts. Edward Whelan accused the Liberals of not supporting him enough. He threatened to leave PEI but ended up staying.
Political career
In August 1846, Whelan was elected as an assemblyman for St. Peters in Kings County. He remained an assemblyman until the last year of his life but had sporadic attendance. Critics of Whelan point out that his political voice lacked the passion and genius that was apparent in his printed work.In the fall of 1846, Whelan sought to embark on yet another newspaper venture, namely the Examiner. This publication nearly failed, but he managed to keep it going.
Whelan then devoted much of 1850 to speak at meetings regarding the concept of responsible government
Responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
. This led to Whelan’s rise in stature and in April 1851, Whelan was named to the Executive Council and also appointed the Queen's Printer
Queen's Printer
The Queen's Printer is a position defined by letters patent under the royal prerogative in various Commonwealth realms...
.
Within this new government role, Whelan spent much of his time defending the major Liberal reforms regarding the Free Education Act, extension of the franchise, and the Land Purchase Act. These Liberal reforms were not without controversy, and Whelan took the brunt of the criticism.http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=38892
Confederation
In 1864, the union of the British North American colonies was the topic of the day. Though the Liberals were against confederation, Whelan supported confederation as he saw it as an opportunity for PEI to gain more control of its own affairs. Whelan was chosen to be one of the delegates to the Quebec ConferenceQuebec Conference, 1864
The Quebec Conference was the second meeting held in 1864 to discuss Canadian Confederation.The 16 delegates from the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island had agreed at the close of the Charlottetown Conference to meet again at Quebec City October 1864...
. Attending this conference made Whelan an even stronger proponent. Despite his advocacy, few politicians and residents were persuaded and Whelan became disillusioned.
End of Political Career
Whelan’s stance on ConfederationConfederation
A confederation in modern political terms is a permanent union of political units for common action in relation to other units. Usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution, confederations tend to be established for dealing with critical issues such as defense, foreign...
as well as other issues, led him to become isolated within the Liberal party. In the election of 1867, Whelan was defeated for the first time in 21 years. There is no single cause for his defeat. He had lost support from his traditional supporters by denouncing the Tenant League and Fenianism. Moreover, his support of Confederation was unpopular with the people of PEI. On all three of these issues, his opponent, Edward Reilly
Edward Reilly
Edward Reilly was a journalist and politician in Prince Edward Island.Reilly replaced Edward Whelan in the assembly after a bi-election in 1867.- References :*...
, had the edge.
However, Whelan believed that the defeat came from the disapproval of the newly-appointed cleric of St. Peters, Father William Phelan, a supporter of Reilly. Whelan felt that the clergy had unduly influenced the election.
Whelan felt very bitter about this defeat and by the autumn of 1867 his health slowly deteriorated. Whelan died on December 10, 1867.