James Francis McGrath
Encyclopedia
James Francis McGrath was a fisherman and political figure in Newfoundland. He represented Placentia and St. Mary's
in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
from 1885 to 1894 as a Liberal.
He was born in Little Placentia
, the son of Richard McGrath and Margaret Fanning. He was raised and educated in Oderin where his father was Customs Collector and Stipendary Magistrate. He received his secondary education at Saint Bonaventure's College
in St.John's. McGrath began work as a fisherman operating his own boat and later owned a fishing business operating catching cod
on the Grand Banks and herring
. First elected MHA for the district of Placentia and St. Mary's in 1885 (a position his father had held in the past). He served as a member of the Newfoundland Fisheries Commission from 1889 to 1895. He was re-elected in 1893 and was named to the Executive Council as chairman of the Board of Works. He was forced to resign from the assembly the following year after the Tories filed petitions against 15 Liberal and one Independent incumbent for partisan use of government funds. He was disqualified from holding office again. His brother Richard was elected to represent Placentia and St. Mary's in the subsequent by-election. In 1895, McGrath was named governor of the Newfoundland penitentiary, a position he filled from Apr 1 1895 until his death in 1902. He was married three times: first in 1882 to Theresa Mary Power (1859 - 1886), then in 1889 to Catherine (Kate) McCarthy (1859 - 1895) and finally in 1896 to Mary Anne (Min) Aylward (1859 - 1943). In all he had 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls (including twin daughters who died as children). One son John William McGrath worked as secretary and advisor to Theodore Roosevelt but died in 1924 at the age of 32 in Boston, Mass. Son James became a doctor and eventually entered politics, becoming Minister of Health in the Smallwood government. Daughter Elizabeth Anne McGrath studied law and in 1934 was the second woman admitted to the bar in Newfoundland. James Francis McGrath died in Halifax
at the age of 43 while returning from kidney
surgery in Boston
following an emergency operation by his uncle Dr. Donald A Campbell. His body was returned to St. John's, Newfoundland and he was buried in the Belvedere Roman Catholic Cemetery.
Placentia and St. Mary's
Placentia—St. Mary’s is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011, there were 7,361 eligible voters living within the district....
in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...
from 1885 to 1894 as a Liberal.
He was born in Little Placentia
Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador
Argentia is a community on the island of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is situated on a flat headland located along the southwest coast of the Avalon Peninsula on Placentia Bay...
, the son of Richard McGrath and Margaret Fanning. He was raised and educated in Oderin where his father was Customs Collector and Stipendary Magistrate. He received his secondary education at Saint Bonaventure's College
Saint Bonaventure's College
St. Bonaventure's College is an independent kindergarten to grade 12 Catholic School in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is located in the historic centre of North America's oldest city, adjacent to the Roman Catholic Basilica of St...
in St.John's. McGrath began work as a fisherman operating his own boat and later owned a fishing business operating catching cod
Atlantic cod
The Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, is a well-known demersal food fish belonging to the family Gadidae. It is also commercially known as cod, codling or haberdine....
on the Grand Banks and herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
. First elected MHA for the district of Placentia and St. Mary's in 1885 (a position his father had held in the past). He served as a member of the Newfoundland Fisheries Commission from 1889 to 1895. He was re-elected in 1893 and was named to the Executive Council as chairman of the Board of Works. He was forced to resign from the assembly the following year after the Tories filed petitions against 15 Liberal and one Independent incumbent for partisan use of government funds. He was disqualified from holding office again. His brother Richard was elected to represent Placentia and St. Mary's in the subsequent by-election. In 1895, McGrath was named governor of the Newfoundland penitentiary, a position he filled from Apr 1 1895 until his death in 1902. He was married three times: first in 1882 to Theresa Mary Power (1859 - 1886), then in 1889 to Catherine (Kate) McCarthy (1859 - 1895) and finally in 1896 to Mary Anne (Min) Aylward (1859 - 1943). In all he had 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls (including twin daughters who died as children). One son John William McGrath worked as secretary and advisor to Theodore Roosevelt but died in 1924 at the age of 32 in Boston, Mass. Son James became a doctor and eventually entered politics, becoming Minister of Health in the Smallwood government. Daughter Elizabeth Anne McGrath studied law and in 1934 was the second woman admitted to the bar in Newfoundland. James Francis McGrath died in 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...
at the age of 43 while returning from kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
surgery in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
following an emergency operation by his uncle Dr. Donald A Campbell. His body was returned to St. John's, Newfoundland and he was buried in the Belvedere Roman Catholic Cemetery.