George E. King
Encyclopedia
George Edwin King was a New Brunswick
lawyer, politician
, jurist
, and the second and fourth Premier of New Brunswick
in the Canadian Confederation
.
King attended Wesleyan University
in Middletown, Connecticut
, where he received a B.A. in 1859 and a M.A. in 1862. He was elected to the first provincial legislature
of the new Canadian Confederation
in 1867 and served in the Confederation Party
government as minister without portfolio
. When Andrew R. Wetmore resigned, the Confederation Party became the Liberal-Conservatives and King became Premier
in 1870. Some members of his caucus
felt he was too close to the federal Conservatives
of Sir John A. Macdonald
and King was maneuvered out of the leadership by George L. Hathaway with King taking a position in the new cabinet
. When Hathaway died in 1872, King became Premier
for a second time serving until 1878. One of King's major accomplishments was the Common Schools Act of 1871
which implemented a single, tax supported public school system.
In 1880 he became a justice on the province's supreme court
, the Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick
, and in 1893 he became a justice on the Supreme Court of Canada
.
On his passing in 1901, he was interred in the Fernhill Cemetery
in Saint John, New Brunswick
.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
lawyer, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
, and the second and fourth Premier of New Brunswick
Premier of New Brunswick
The Premier of New Brunswick is the first minister for the Canadian province of New Brunswick. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
in 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...
.
King attended Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
in Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
, where he received a B.A. in 1859 and a M.A. in 1862. He was elected to the first 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...
of the new 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...
in 1867 and served in the Confederation Party
Confederation Party
Confederation Party was a term for the parties supporting Canadian confederation in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in the 1860s when politics became polarised between supporters and opponents of Confederation. The Confederation parties were accordingly opposed by Anti-Confederation...
government 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...
. When Andrew R. Wetmore resigned, the Confederation Party became the Liberal-Conservatives and King became 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"...
in 1870. Some members of his caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
felt he was too close to the federal Conservatives
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
of Sir John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
and King was maneuvered out of the leadership by George L. Hathaway with King taking a position in the new cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
. When Hathaway died in 1872, King became 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"...
for a second time serving until 1878. One of King's major accomplishments was the Common Schools Act of 1871
Common Schools Act of 1871
The Common Schools Act of 1871 was legislation of the Canadian Province of New Brunswick, passed by the 22nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, which replaced the Parish Schools Act of 1858. The legislation aimed to abolish church-run schooling in New Brunswick and replace it with a system of...
which implemented a single, tax supported public school system.
In 1880 he became a justice on the province's supreme court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
, the Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick
Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick
The Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick is the superior court of the Canadian province of New Brunswick.- Structure :...
, and in 1893 he became a justice on the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
.
On his passing in 1901, he was interred in the Fernhill Cemetery
Fernhill Cemetery
Fernhill Cemetery, originally known as the Rural Cemetery at the time it opened in 1848, is located at 200 Westmorland Road in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada...
in Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
.