John Babington Macaulay Baxter
Encyclopedia
John Babington Macaulay Baxter, PC
(February 16, 1868 – December 27, 1946) was a New Brunswick
lawyer, jurist and the 19th Premier of the Canadian Province of New Brunswick
.
Baxter served in the Canadian Army and was the author of Historical Records of the New Brunswick Regiment, Royal Artillery, the unit he commanded from 1907 to 1912. He also had a keen interest in genealogy
and in 1943 the New Brunswick Museum
published his book titled Simon Baxter - The first United Empire Loyalist to settle in New Brunswick, (Canada).
Born in Saint John, New Brunswick
, John Baxter served on the municipal council for eighteen years from 1892 to 1910. A Conservative Party
member, he was elected to the 32nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
in 1911. He was appointed Attorney-General
of the province, holding that office from 1915 to 1917. He entered federal politics and served as Minister of Customs and Excise
under Prime Minister
Arthur Meighen
in 1921 before taking over the leadership of the provincial Conservative party and leading it to victory in 1925.
Baxter was a leader of the Maritime Rights Movement
which expressed the discontent felt by the maritime provinces concerning their loss of influence in the Canadian confederation
dominated by the provinces of Quebec
and Ontario
.
He left politics in 1931 and was appointed Chief Justice of the New Brunswick Supreme Court
in 1935 serving until his death. His son, John B. M. Baxter, Jr.
, later served in the cabinet of Richard Hatfield
.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(February 16, 1868 – December 27, 1946) was a 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...
lawyer, jurist and the 19th Premier of the Canadian Province 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....
.
Baxter served in the Canadian Army and was the author of Historical Records of the New Brunswick Regiment, Royal Artillery, the unit he commanded from 1907 to 1912. He also had a keen interest in genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
and in 1943 the New Brunswick Museum
New Brunswick Museum
The New Brunswick Museum, located in Saint John, New Brunswick is Canada's oldest continuing museum. The New Brunswick Museum was officially incorporated as the "Provincial Museum" in 1929 and received its current name in 1930, but its history goes back much further. Its lineage can be traced back...
published his book titled Simon Baxter - The first United Empire Loyalist to settle in New Brunswick, (Canada).
Born in Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
, John Baxter served on the municipal council for eighteen years from 1892 to 1910. A Conservative Party
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...
member, he was elected to the 32nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
32nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
The 32nd New Brunswick Legislative Assembly represented New Brunswick between April 30, 1908 and May 25, 1912.Lemuel John Tweedie served as Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick....
in 1911. He was appointed Attorney-General
Office of the Attorney General (New Brunswick)
The Office of the Attorney General is a part of the Government of New Brunswick. It is charged providing legal services to all departments and agencies of the government....
of the province, holding that office from 1915 to 1917. He entered federal politics and served as Minister of Customs and Excise
Minister of National Revenue (Canada)
The Minister of National Revenue is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for the Canada Revenue Agency and the administration of taxation law and collection....
under Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Arthur Meighen
Arthur Meighen
Arthur Meighen, PC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served two terms as the ninth Prime Minister of Canada: from July 10, 1920 to December 29, 1921; and from June 29 to September 25, 1926. He was the first Prime Minister born after Confederation, and the only one to represent a riding...
in 1921 before taking over the leadership of the provincial Conservative party and leading it to victory in 1925.
Baxter was a leader of the Maritime Rights Movement
Maritime Rights Movement
The Maritime Rights Movement arose in the 1920s in response to perceived unfair economic policies in Canada that were affecting the economies of the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. At a time of rural protest in Canada from Ontario to the Prairies, the Movement was...
which expressed the discontent felt by the maritime provinces concerning their loss of influence in the 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...
dominated by the provinces of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
He left politics in 1931 and was appointed Chief Justice of the New Brunswick Supreme Court
Chief Justice of New Brunswick
The Chief Justice of the Province of New Brunswick, Canada holds the highest office within the Province's judicial system. He/she is part of the Court of Appeal, the highest court in the Province which includes five other judges plus any former judge of the Court of Appeal who is a supernumerary...
in 1935 serving until his death. His son, John B. M. Baxter, Jr.
John B. M. Baxter, Jr.
John Babington Macaulay Baxter, Junior was a politician in New Brunswick, Canada. He served as minister of a variety of portfolios under Premier of New Brunswick Richard Hatfield. His father, John Babington Macaulay Baxter, was premier from 1925 to 1931.- References :...
, later served in the cabinet of Richard Hatfield
Richard Hatfield
Richard Bennett Hatfield, PC, ONB was a New Brunswick politician and long time Premier of the province .- Early life :...
.
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.