James Kidd Flemming
Encyclopedia
James Kidd Flemming was a businessman and politician in New Brunswick
, Canada
.
Flemming was a school teacher and lumberman before entering politics and serving as Provincial Secretary-Treasurer
from 1908 to 1911 and Minister of Lands and Mines
from 1911-1914. He succeeded Douglas Hazen
as the Premier of New Brunswick
in 1911. In June 1912, Flemming led his provincial party to the biggest electoral victory in its history. In addition to two independent Conservative seats, the Conservative Party captured 42 of the province's 46 seats.
Under Flemming, the French language
was used for the first time in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
.
In 1914, Premier Flemming was forced to resign after charges of fundraising irregularities against him were made public by a powerful group of back-room Liberals
known as the "Dark Lantern Brigade" led by party organizers Peter Veniot
and Edward S. Carter plus lawyer
and Federal Member of Parliament, Frank Carvell
.
Nevertheless, Flemming remained popular and won a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1925 federal election
and again in the 1926 election
.
He was president and director of the Flemming and Gibson lumber business in Juniper, New Brunswick
. His son, Hugh John Flemming
took over the business and too entered politics, serving as Premier of New Brunswick from 1952 to 1960.
James Kidd Flemming suffered from poor health for many of his adult years and died in 1927 at age fifty-eight. He and his wife Sarah are buried in the family plot at the Methodist Church Cemetery in Woodstock, 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...
, 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...
.
Flemming was a school teacher and lumberman before entering politics and serving as Provincial Secretary-Treasurer
Department of Finance (New Brunswick)
The Department of Finance is a part of the Government of New Brunswick. It is charged with New Brunswick's budgetary and tax policy and headed by the finance minister....
from 1908 to 1911 and Minister of Lands and Mines
Department of Natural Resources (New Brunswick)
The Department of Natural Resources is a department in the Government of New Brunswick, Canada. It is responsible for management of the Province's forests including timber utilization, trail management, insect and disease protection including spruce budworm and gypsy moth, fire protection,...
from 1911-1914. He succeeded Douglas Hazen
John Douglas Hazen
Sir John Douglas Hazen, PC, KCMG was a politician in New Brunswick, Canada.Known by his second name, Douglas, he entered politics in 1885 when he was elected as an alderman in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He became mayor in 1888.Hazen was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a Conservative...
as the Premier of New Brunswick
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....
in 1911. In June 1912, Flemming led his provincial party to the biggest electoral victory in its history. In addition to two independent Conservative seats, the Conservative Party captured 42 of the province's 46 seats.
Under Flemming, the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
was used for the first time in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
.
In 1914, Premier Flemming was forced to resign after charges of fundraising irregularities against him were made public by a powerful group of back-room Liberals
New Brunswick Liberal Association
The New Brunswick Liberal Association , more popularly known as the New Brunswick Liberal Party or Liberal Party of New Brunswick, is one of the two major political parties in the Canadian province of New Brunswick...
known as the "Dark Lantern Brigade" led by party organizers Peter Veniot
Peter Veniot
Peter John Veniot, PC was a businessman and newspaper owner and a politician in New Brunswick, Canada. He was the first Acadian premier of the province of New Brunswick....
and Edward S. Carter plus lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and Federal Member of Parliament, Frank Carvell
Frank Broadstreet Carvell
Frank Broadstreet Carvell, PC was a Canadian lawyer, businessman, and politician.Carvell was born in Woodstock, New Brunswick. His father was a farmer descended from United Empire Loyalists and his mother was an Ulster Protestant. He was educated locally and worked as a teacher...
.
Nevertheless, Flemming remained popular and won a seat 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...
in the 1925 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1925
The Canadian federal election of 1925 was held on October 29 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 15th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's Liberal Party formed a minority government. This precipitated the "King-Byng Affair".The Liberals under...
and again in the 1926 election
Canadian federal election, 1926
The Canadian federal election of 1926 was held on September 14 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 16th Parliament of Canada. The election was called following an event known as the King-Byng Affair...
.
He was president and director of the Flemming and Gibson lumber business in Juniper, New Brunswick
Juniper, New Brunswick
Juniper is a Canadian hamlet in Carleton County, New Brunswick. Juniper is located in Aberdeen Parish. It is situated on Route 107, which runs from Route 105 at Bristol, northeast to Juniper, and then bends southeast towards Napadogan and Deersdale...
. His son, Hugh John Flemming
Hugh John Flemming
Hugh John Flemming, PC was a politician and the 24th Premier of New Brunswick.He is always known as "Hugh John"...
took over the business and too entered politics, serving as Premier of New Brunswick from 1952 to 1960.
James Kidd Flemming suffered from poor health for many of his adult years and died in 1927 at age fifty-eight. He and his wife Sarah are buried in the family plot at the Methodist Church Cemetery in Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock is a Canadian town in Carleton County, New Brunswick located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Meduxnekeag River, 92 km west of Fredericton and close to the Canada – United States border and Houlton, Maine.- History :Woodstock was settled by Loyalists...
.
Further reading
- Arthur T. Doyle, Front Benches and Back Rooms: A story of corruption, muckraking, raw partisanship and political intrigue in New Brunswick, Toronto: Green Tree Publishing, 1976.