George Washington Stephens (senior)
Encyclopedia
George Washington Stephens (22 September 1832 – 20 June 1904) was a Canadian
businessman, lawyer, and politician.
Born in Swanton, Vermont, the son of Harrison Stephens and Sarah Jackson, his father was a wealthy Montreal merchant who was from Vermont and Stephens was born there when his mother was visiting. After working in the retail hardware trade and working with his brother in the family business, Stephens received a law degree from McGill College in 1863 and was admitted to the Quebec Bar. He started practicing law in a partnership but soon practiced alone.
In 1865 he married the much younger Elizabeth McIntosh, who was of Scottish origin. They had a son, George Washington Stephens, Jr.
(1866–1942). After the sudden and unexpected death of Elizabeth, Stephens married her younger sister, Frances Ramsey McIntosh, in 1878. They had a son together, Francis Chattan Stephens (1887-1918), who went to become a stockbroker and, during World War I
, a Captain in the Canadian 13th Battalion. Chattan, as he was called, married a daughter of Canadian military minister Albert Edward Kemp
in 1912.
In 1868, Stephens was elected to the Montreal City Council
as a councillor for the Saint-Laurent ward. He served on the council from 1868 to 1879, 1881 to 1882, and from 1889 to 1892.
In 1881
, he was elected as the Liberal candidate to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
for the electoral district of Montreal Centre. He was defeated in the 1886 election
and again in the 1890 election
. He was elected again for Huntingdon in the 1892
and 1897
elections. He was appointed minister without portfolio in the cabinet of Premier
Félix-Gabriel Marchand
in 1897. He was re-appointed to the same office in the cabinet of Premier Simon-Napoléon Parent
. He did not run in the 1900 election
and was appointed a provincial commission on colonization in 1902.
His son, George Washington Stephens
, was also a politician in Quebec. His second wife, Frances, perished in the sinking of the British luxury liner RMS Lusitania
in 1915. Her fate became known as Double Jeopardy
for she was alleged to be sunk by the same German submarine twice.
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...
businessman, lawyer, and politician.
Born in Swanton, Vermont, the son of Harrison Stephens and Sarah Jackson, his father was a wealthy Montreal merchant who was from Vermont and Stephens was born there when his mother was visiting. After working in the retail hardware trade and working with his brother in the family business, Stephens received a law degree from McGill College in 1863 and was admitted to the Quebec Bar. He started practicing law in a partnership but soon practiced alone.
In 1865 he married the much younger Elizabeth McIntosh, who was of Scottish origin. They had a son, George Washington Stephens, Jr.
George Washington Stephens (junior)
George Washington Stephens was a Canadian politician.Born in Montreal, the son of George Washington Stephens and Elizabeth McIntosh, Stephens was educated at Montreal High School, McGill University, the University of Geneva, University of Marburg, and the University of Hanover. He worked with the...
(1866–1942). After the sudden and unexpected death of Elizabeth, Stephens married her younger sister, Frances Ramsey McIntosh, in 1878. They had a son together, Francis Chattan Stephens (1887-1918), who went to become a stockbroker and, during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, a Captain in the Canadian 13th Battalion. Chattan, as he was called, married a daughter of Canadian military minister Albert Edward Kemp
Albert Edward Kemp
Sir Albert Edward Kemp, KCMG, PC was a Canadian businessman and politician. Kemp was a Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence and Minister of the Overseas Military Forces during World War I. A Conservative and Unionist, Kemp was elected five times to the Canadian House of Commons as the Member...
in 1912.
In 1868, Stephens was elected to the Montreal City Council
Montreal City Council
The Montreal City Council is the governing body of Montreal, Quebec. The head of the city government in Montreal is the mayor, who is first among equals in the City Council. The mayor is Gérald Tremblay, who is a member of the Union des citoyens et des citoyennes de l'Île de Montréal...
as a councillor for the Saint-Laurent ward. He served on the council from 1868 to 1879, 1881 to 1882, and from 1889 to 1892.
In 1881
Quebec general election, 1881
The Quebec general election of 1881 was held on December 2, 1881 to elect members of the 5th Legislative Assembly for the Province of Quebec, Canada...
, he was elected as the Liberal candidate to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec
Legislative Assembly of Quebec
The Legislative Assembly of Quebec was the name of the lower house of Quebec's legislature until 1968, when it was renamed the National Assembly of Quebec. At the same time, the upper house of the legislature, the Legislative Council, was abolished...
for the electoral district of Montreal Centre. He was defeated in the 1886 election
Quebec general election, 1886
The Quebec general election of 1886 on October 14, 1886 to elect members of the 6th Legislative Assembly for the Province of Quebec, Canada. The Parti libéral du Québec, led by Honoré Mercier, won a majority of seats against the Parti conservateur du Québec, led by John Jones Ross.The...
and again in the 1890 election
Quebec general election, 1890
The Quebec general election of 1890 was held on June 17, 1890 to elect members of the 7th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Honoré Mercier, was re-elected, defeating the Quebec Conservative Party, led by Louis-Olivier Taillon.A...
. He was elected again for Huntingdon in the 1892
Quebec general election, 1892
In the Quebec general election of 1892 on March 8, 1892 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Quebec Conservative Party, led by Charles-Eugène Boucher de Boucherville, defeated the Quebec Liberal Party, led by Honoré Mercier.Mercier had been...
and 1897
Quebec general election, 1897
The Quebec general election of 1897 was held on May 11, 1897 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The Quebec Liberal Party, led by Félix-Gabriel Marchand, defeated the incumbent Quebec Conservative Party, led by Edmund James Flynn.This marked the start of...
elections. He was appointed minister without portfolio in the cabinet of Premier
Premier of Quebec
The Premier of Quebec is the first minister of the Canadian province of Quebec. The Premier is the province's head of government and his title is Premier and President of the Executive Council....
Félix-Gabriel Marchand
Félix-Gabriel Marchand
Félix-Gabriel Marchand was a journalist, author, notary and politician in Quebec, Canada. He was the 11th Premier of Quebec from May 24, 1897 to September 25, 1900....
in 1897. He was re-appointed to the same office in the cabinet of Premier Simon-Napoléon Parent
Simon-Napoléon Parent
Simon-Napoléon Parent . Born in Quebec City he was the 12th Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from October 3, 1900 to March 21, 1905.-Background:...
. He did not run in the 1900 election
Quebec general election, 1900
The Quebec general election of 1900 was held on December 7, 1900 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada...
and was appointed a provincial commission on colonization in 1902.
His son, George Washington Stephens
George Washington Stephens (junior)
George Washington Stephens was a Canadian politician.Born in Montreal, the son of George Washington Stephens and Elizabeth McIntosh, Stephens was educated at Montreal High School, McGill University, the University of Geneva, University of Marburg, and the University of Hanover. He worked with the...
, was also a politician in Quebec. His second wife, Frances, perished in the sinking of the British luxury liner RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland. The ship entered passenger service with the Cunard Line on 26 August 1907 and continued on the line's heavily-traveled passenger service between Liverpool, England and New...
in 1915. Her fate became known as Double Jeopardy
Double jeopardy (disambiguation)
Double jeopardy is a type of procedural defence in legal terminology.Double jeopardy may also refer to:In arts:* The Double Jeopardy! Round, the second round of the television game show Jeopardy!, during which all money values are doubled and two Daily Doubles are hidden on the board*Double...
for she was alleged to be sunk by the same German submarine twice.