George Valentine McInerney, QC

Queen's Counsel

Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...

 (February 14, 1857 – January 12, 1908) was a lawyer and politician in 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...

. He represented Kent

Kent (New Brunswick electoral district)

Kent was a federal electoral district in New Brunswick, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1968. It was created by the British North America Act of 1867.It consisted of the County of Kent...

 in the Canadian House of Commons

Canadian House of Commons

The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...

 from 1892 to 1900 as a Liberal-Conservative member.

He was born on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day

Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...

 in Kingston (later Rexton

Rexton, New Brunswick

Rexton is a Canadian village in Kent County, New Brunswick.Situated on the Richibucto River, the village was originally inhabited by Mi'kmaqs, many of whose descendants still reside in the nearby Elsipogtog First Nation, formerly referred to as the Big Cove Band...

), the son of Owen McInerney

Owen McInerney

Owen McInerney was an Irish-born merchant and political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. He represented Kent County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1866 to 1869....

 and Mary McAuley. McInerney was educated at the College of Saint Joseph in Memramcook

Memramcook, New Brunswick

Memramcook is a Canadian village in Westmorland County, New Brunswick. Located in south-eastern New Brunswick, the community is predominantly people of Acadian descent who speak the Chiac derivative of the French language....

, Boston University

Boston University

Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...

 and Harvard University

Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...

. He was called to the bar in 1880 and became a criminal lawyer in Richibucto

Richibucto, New Brunswick

Richibucto is a Canadian town in Kent County, New Brunswick.The town is situated on the Richibucto River where it discharges into the Northumberland Strait. The town takes its name from a Mi'kmaq term meaning "river of fire"....

. He served as secretary-treasurer for Kent County

Kent County, New Brunswick

Kent County is located in east-central New Brunswick, Canada. The county features a unique blend of cultures including Mi'kmaq, Acadian and English Speaking Settlers...

 from 1880 to 1900. In 1882, he married Christina, the daughter of Henry O'Leary

Henry O'Leary

Henry O'Leary was an Irish-born businessman and political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. He represented Kent County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1873 to 1878....

. In 1894, he was named Queen's Counsel

Queen's Counsel

Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...

. McInerney also lectured at the Saint John Law School (now the law faculty of the University of New Brunswick

University of New Brunswick

The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...

).

He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the federal parliament in 1878, 1882, 1883 and 1887 and again in 1890 for the provincial assembly. He was finally elected in an 1892 by-election. McInerney was defeated in bids for reelection in 1900 and 1904; he also ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the provincial assembly in 1903.

McInerney was trustee and, for a time, co-editor of the Catholic

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

 newspaper, the Freeman. He died in Saint John

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...

 at the age of 50.

His son Ralph

Ralph McInerney

Ralph George McInerney was a lawyer, insurance broker and political figure in New Brunswick, Canada. He represented the city of Saint John in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1939 to 1948 as a Conservative member....

also served in the provincial assembly.