Thomas Robert McInnes
Encyclopedia
Thomas Robert McInnes or (Gaelic) Tòmas Raibeart Mac Aonghais (November 5, 1840 – March 19, 1904) was a Canadian physician, Member of the House of Commons, Senator, and the sixth Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
.
He was the father of the poet Tom MacInnes
.
, Nova Scotia
to Scottish immigrant parents. He studied in the US, at Harvard University
and elsewhere, earning a medical degree from Rush Medical College
. McInnes served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
before returning to Canada. He initially settled in Dresden, Ontario but relocated to New Westminster, British Columbia
in 1874. McInnes established himself as a physician and surgeon, attached to the Royal Columbian Hospital
and also served as a coroner. In July, 1878 he was appointed as superintendent of the provincial Lunatic Asylum.
in a federal by-election, March 25, 1878. His victory was confirmed in the general election
which followed later in the year. McInnes resigned his Commons seat December 12, 1881 and was appointed to the Senate
by Prime Minister Macdonald
twelve days later. He resigned his Senate seat in 1897 upon his appointment as Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.
and appointed successors who were controversial. A party system was only emerging in the province at the time and it was often unclear which members commanded support. Following the 1898 provincial election
, incumbent Premier John Herbert Turner
refused to resign, despite having only minority support. McInnes asked former Premier Robert Beaven
to form a government, despite not having a seat in the legislature. There were rumours at the time that McInnes had asked Beaven that his son, William Wallace Burns McInnes, a federal Member of Parliament, be included in his cabinet. Beaven was unable to secure support for a government; four days later McInnes asked incumbent Opposition Leader
Charles Augustus Semlin
to form a government. Premier Semlin lost a no-confidence motion
by one vote in 1900. McInnes then asked Attorney-General Joseph Martin
to form a government, despite little support in the legislature, which fell on another no-confidence motion, 30-1. McInnes made another controversial choice, asking James Dunsmuir
the heir of a powerful business family, to become Premier. Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier
had finally become exhausted with McInnes and requested the Governor-General (The Earl of Minto) replace him with Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière
, a cabinet minister from Quebec. McInnes thus became the only Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia dismissed from the office.
McInnes is also remembered for an 1890 senate bill entitled "An Act to Provide for the Use of Gaelic in Official Proceedings" which would have made Gaelic an official language in Canada. However, the bill was defeated 42–7. He also advocated the creation of a Canadian mint
. At the time, Canadian currency was produced in Great Britain. McInnes attempted a political comeback in a 1903 federal by-election but finished last of the three candidates in the Burrard riding
.
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
The Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia is the viceregal representative in British Columbia of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared with equally the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest...
.
He was the father of the poet Tom MacInnes
Tom MacInnes
Thomas Robert Edward MacInnes was a Canadian poet and writer whose writings ranged from "vigorous, slangy recollections of the Yukon gold rush" to "a translation of and commentary on Lao-tzu’s philosophy"...
.
Life
McInnes was born in Lake AinslieLake Ainslie
Lake Ainslie on Cape Breton Island is one of the largest natural freshwater lake in Nova Scotia. The Southwest Margaree River starts at the lake and empties into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
to Scottish immigrant parents. He studied in the US, at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and elsewhere, earning a medical degree from Rush Medical College
Rush Medical College
Rush Medical College is the medical school of Rush University, a private university in Chicago, Illinois. Rush Medical College was one of the first medical colleges in the state of Illinois and was chartered in 1837, two days before the city of Chicago was chartered, and opened with 22 students on...
. McInnes served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
before returning to Canada. He initially settled in Dresden, Ontario but relocated to New Westminster, British Columbia
New Westminster, British Columbia
New Westminster is an historically important city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and is a member municipality of the Greater Vancouver Regional District. It was founded as the capital of the Colony of British Columbia ....
in 1874. McInnes established himself as a physician and surgeon, attached to the Royal Columbian Hospital
Royal Columbian Hospital
The Royal Columbian Hospital is the oldest hospital in the Canadian province of British Columbia and one of the busiest in the Fraser Health Authority...
and also served as a coroner. In July, 1878 he was appointed as superintendent of the provincial Lunatic Asylum.
Political career
McInnes became mayor of New Westminster in 1877. He was acclaimed as an independent candidateIndependent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
in a federal by-election, March 25, 1878. His victory was confirmed in the general election
Canadian federal election, 1878
The Canadian federal election of 1878 was held on September 17 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 4th Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the end of Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie's Liberal government after only one term in office. Canada suffered an economic depression...
which followed later in the year. McInnes resigned his Commons seat December 12, 1881 and was appointed to the Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
by Prime Minister Macdonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
twelve days later. He resigned his Senate seat in 1897 upon his appointment as Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.
Lieutenant Governor and aftermath
McInnes’ term as Lieutenant Governor was often stormy as he twice dismissed PremiersPremier (Canada)
In Canada, a premier is the head of government of a province or territory. There are currently ten provincial premiers and three territorial premiers in Canada....
and appointed successors who were controversial. A party system was only emerging in the province at the time and it was often unclear which members commanded support. Following the 1898 provincial election
British Columbia general election, 1898
The British Columbia general election of 1898 was the eighth general election for the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.-Party politics:...
, incumbent Premier John Herbert Turner
John Herbert Turner
John Herbert Turner was a British Columbia politician. Born in Claydon, Suffolk, England, Turner moved to British North America and worked as a merchant in Halifax and Charlottetown. In 1862 he moved to Victoria, British Columbia and founded Turner, Beeton and Co...
refused to resign, despite having only minority support. McInnes asked former Premier Robert Beaven
Robert Beaven
Robert Beaven , son of James Beaven, was a British Columbia politician and businessman. Beaven moved to British Columbia from Toronto, where he had been educated at Upper Canada College, because of the gold rush. He entered business in Victoria, which was then the capital of the Colony of Vancouver...
to form a government, despite not having a seat in the legislature. There were rumours at the time that McInnes had asked Beaven that his son, William Wallace Burns McInnes, a federal Member of Parliament, be included in his cabinet. Beaven was unable to secure support for a government; four days later McInnes asked incumbent Opposition Leader
Leader of the Opposition (British Columbia)
The Leader of the Opposition in British Columbia is the MLA in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia who leads the political party recognized as the Official Opposition. This status generally goes to the leader of the second largest party in the Legislative Assembly....
Charles Augustus Semlin
Charles Augustus Semlin
Charles Augustus Semlin was a British Columbia politician.Born near Barrie, Upper Canada, Semlin worked there as a schoolteacher until 1862 when he moved to British Columbia during the gold rush to become a prospector. In 1869 he purchased the Dominion Ranch and became a rancher...
to form a government. Premier Semlin lost a no-confidence motion
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
by one vote in 1900. McInnes then asked Attorney-General Joseph Martin
Joseph Martin (Canadian politician)
Joseph Martin was a lawyer and politician in Manitoba, British Columbia and the United Kingdom often referred to as "Fighting Joe".-Early life:...
to form a government, despite little support in the legislature, which fell on another no-confidence motion, 30-1. McInnes made another controversial choice, asking James Dunsmuir
James Dunsmuir
James Dunsmuir was a British Columbian industrialist and politician. Son of Robert Dunsmuir, he was heir to his family's coal fortune. The Dunsmuir family dominated the province's economy in the late nineteenth century and were a leading force in opposing organized labour...
the heir of a powerful business family, to become Premier. Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
had finally become exhausted with McInnes and requested the Governor-General (The Earl of Minto) replace him with Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière
Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière
Sir Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière, served as the fourth Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec, a federal Cabinet minister, and the seventh Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.- Early years :...
, a cabinet minister from Quebec. McInnes thus became the only Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia dismissed from the office.
McInnes is also remembered for an 1890 senate bill entitled "An Act to Provide for the Use of Gaelic in Official Proceedings" which would have made Gaelic an official language in Canada. However, the bill was defeated 42–7. He also advocated the creation of a Canadian mint
Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint produces all of Canada's circulation coins, and manufactures circulation coins on behalf of other nations. The Mint also designs and manufactures: precious and base metal collector coins; gold, silver, palladium, and platinum bullion coins; medals, as well as medallions and...
. At the time, Canadian currency was produced in Great Britain. McInnes attempted a political comeback in a 1903 federal by-election but finished last of the three candidates in the Burrard riding
Burrard (electoral district)
Burrard was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1896 to 1904 and from 1917 to 1925. This riding was created in 1892 from parts of New Westminster riding.- Election results :...
.