Andrew Rainsford Wetmore

Andrew Rainsford Wetmore (August 16, 1820 – March 7, 1892) was a New Brunswick politician, jurist, and a member of a prominent United Empire Loyalist family.

Andrew Rainsford Wetmore
1st Premier of New Brunswick
In office
August 16, 1867 – May 25, 1870
MonarchVictoria
Lieutenant GovernorCharles Hastings Doyle
Francis Pym Harding
Lemuel Allan Wilmot
Preceded byPeter Mitchell
Succeeded byGeorge E. King
MLA for Saint John City
In office
March 4, 1865 – May 25, 1870
Preceded byCharles Watters
Succeeded byAaron Alward
Personal details
BornAugust 16, 1820
Fredericton, New Brunswick
DiedMarch 7, 1892(1892-03-07) (aged 71)
Fredericton, New Brunswick
NationalityCanadian
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)
Louisa Elizabeth Lansdowne
(
m. 1848)
Children9
ResidenceSaint John, New Brunswick
Alma materFredericton Collegiate School
OccupationLawyer and judge
Professionpolitician

Wetmore entered politics in 1865 with his election to the colonial legislature as an Anti-Confederate. His opposition to Canadian confederation dissolved when he didn't get the appointment he expected as Attorney-General in the Anti-Confederate Party's government. Wetmore crossed the floor and joined the Confederation Party which formed the government in 1866. When New Brunswick joined Canada in 1867 many prominent pro-Confederation politicians assumed positions in the House of Commons of Canada, the courts or other offices. Wetmore was able to assume the leadership of the remaining Confederation Party forces in the legislature becoming Premier in 1867.

Wetmore's government helped finance extensions to rail lines in the province. His government also incorporated the College of Saint Joseph and granted full property rights to all married women living apart from, or deserted by, their husbands.

On May 25, 1870, he retired from politics to accept a position on the New Brunswick Supreme Court.

References
  • "Andrew Rainsford Wetmore". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.