George Luther Hathaway
Encyclopedia
George Luther Hathaway was a politician in New Brunswick
, Canada
. His surname also appears as Hatheway.
He was born in Musquash, Sunbury County, New Brunswick
, the son of Calvin Luther Hatheway and Sarah Harrison.
He entered politics as a reformer and advocate of responsible government
. Hathaway was a noted drinker, and often sipped brandy while campaigning. He was elected to the colony
's legislative assembly
in 1850, and re-elected in 1854 and 1856, but lost his seat in 1857. He returned to the house in 1861, and became chief commissioner of public works
.
In 1865, Hathaway objected to the terms of Canadian confederation
and resigned from his government position when the terms were accepted by the government of Samuel Leonard Tilley
. Hathaway's resignation helped defeat the government, and he was re-elected as an Anti-Confederate
candidate later that year. He rejected Lieutenant Governor
Arthur H. Gordon's invitation to form a new government. Hathaway instead became chief commissioner of public works in the government of Albert James Smith
.
He did not run in the 1866 election won by the Confederation Party
, but ran in 1870, three years after New Brunswick became a Canadian province. He was elected to the provincial legislature as a Conservative
candidate. Party loyalties were weak during this period, however, and in February 1871, he helped depose the government of Conservative Premier
George E. King
, who was considered to be too close to the federal Conservative Party
. Hathaway became the leader of a new Conservative government.
Hathaway's government passed the Common Schools Act
which had been drawn up by his predecessor. The legislation implemented a single, tax supported public school system based on the principle of Separation of church and state
that would have enacted direct taxation for education. He had run on this issue in the 1871 election and won. The school act called for "free, tax supported, non-sectarian schools" and was opposed both by opponents of direct taxation and by the Roman Catholic clergy who saw the bill as a threat to Catholic schools.
On June 25, 1872, Hathaway's hand was seriously injured when he jumped from a moving train. He died in Fredericton
as a result of blood poisoning from this incident.
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...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. His surname also appears as Hatheway.
He was born in Musquash, Sunbury County, New Brunswick
Sunbury County, New Brunswick
Sunbury County is located in central New Brunswick, Canada. A large military base is located in the western part of the county south of the town of Oromocto...
, the son of Calvin Luther Hatheway and Sarah Harrison.
He entered politics as a reformer and advocate 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...
. Hathaway was a noted drinker, and often sipped brandy while campaigning. He was elected to the colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
's legislative assembly
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
in 1850, and re-elected in 1854 and 1856, but lost his seat in 1857. He returned to the house in 1861, and became chief commissioner of public works
Department of Public Works and Highways (New Brunswick)
The Department of Public Works and Highways was a part of the Government of New Brunswick. It was charged with maintenance of government facilities and the province's highway network. From 1855 to 1912, it was known as the Board of Public Works...
.
In 1865, Hathaway objected to the terms of 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...
and resigned from his government position when the terms were accepted by the government of Samuel Leonard Tilley
Samuel Leonard Tilley
Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley, PC, KCMG was a Canadian politician and one of the Fathers of Confederation. Tilley was descended from United Empire Loyalists on both sides of his family...
. Hathaway's resignation helped defeat the government, and he was re-elected as an Anti-Confederate
Anti-Confederation Party
Anti-Confederation was the name used in what is now Atlantic Canada by several parties opposed to Canadian confederation.-Nova Scotia:In Nova Scotia, the "Anti-Confederates" were led by Joseph Howe. They attempted to reverse the colony's decision to join Confederation, which was initially highly...
candidate later that year. He rejected Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
The Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick or Lieutenante-gouverneure du Nouveau-Brunswick) is the viceregal representative in New Brunswick of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada...
Arthur H. Gordon's invitation to form a new government. Hathaway instead became chief commissioner of public works in the government of Albert James Smith
Albert James Smith
Sir Albert James Smith, PC, KCMG, QC was a New Brunswick politician and opponent of Canadian confederation...
.
He did not run in the 1866 election won by 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...
, but ran in 1870, three years after New Brunswick became a Canadian province. He was elected to the provincial legislature as a Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick
The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick is a centre-right political party in New Brunswick, Canada. It has its origins in the pre-Canadian confederation Conservative Party that opposed the granting of responsible government to the colony...
candidate. Party loyalties were weak during this period, however, and in February 1871, he helped depose the government of Conservative Premier
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....
George E. King
George E. King
George Edwin King was a New Brunswick lawyer, politician, jurist, and the second and fourth Premier of New Brunswick in the Canadian Confederation....
, who was considered to be too close to the federal Conservative Party
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...
. Hathaway became the leader of a new Conservative government.
Hathaway's government passed the Common Schools Act
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 had been drawn up by his predecessor. The legislation implemented a single, tax supported public school system based on the principle of Separation of church and state
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
that would have enacted direct taxation for education. He had run on this issue in the 1871 election and won. The school act called for "free, tax supported, non-sectarian schools" and was opposed both by opponents of direct taxation and by the Roman Catholic clergy who saw the bill as a threat to Catholic schools.
On June 25, 1872, Hathaway's hand was seriously injured when he jumped from a moving train. He died in Fredericton
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
as a result of blood poisoning from this incident.