Thomas Sharpe
Encyclopedia
Thomas Sharpe was a Canadian politician, the 20th Mayor of Winnipeg from 1904 to 1906.
Sharpe was born in County Sligo, Ireland
and worked as a bank clerk in his teens. He moved to Canada in 1885 initially working in Toronto
as a pavement contractor, then in 1892 moved to Winnipeg. He was a Winnipeg city alderman since 1899 before becoming mayor.
When a rise in cases of typhoid fever
in Winnipeg was discovered in 1904 by the municipal Department of Health, mayor Sharpe responded with an aggressive program to develop and enforce sewage and water services. His work as mayor also led to the establishment of Winnipeg's first Board of Control in 1906.
In March 1906, he responded to a strike by employees of the Winnipeg Electric Railway Company
with strikebreaker
s and then with armed militia, earning the mayor the nickname "Gatling Gun Sharpe". This incident was considered a precursor to the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike.
After 1906, Sharpe did not seek another term as mayor and returned to business interests.
Sharpe was born in County Sligo, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and worked as a bank clerk in his teens. He moved to Canada in 1885 initially working in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
as a pavement contractor, then in 1892 moved to Winnipeg. He was a Winnipeg city alderman since 1899 before becoming mayor.
When a rise in cases of typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
in Winnipeg was discovered in 1904 by the municipal Department of Health, mayor Sharpe responded with an aggressive program to develop and enforce sewage and water services. His work as mayor also led to the establishment of Winnipeg's first Board of Control in 1906.
In March 1906, he responded to a strike by employees of the Winnipeg Electric Railway Company
Winnipeg Transit
Winnipeg Transit is the public transit agency in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is a bus-only operator.The Winnipeg Street Railway operated a horse car operation from 1882 to 1894...
with strikebreaker
Strikebreaker
A strikebreaker is a person who works despite an ongoing strike. Strikebreakers are usually individuals who are not employed by the company prior to the trade union dispute, but rather hired prior to or during the strike to keep the organisation running...
s and then with armed militia, earning the mayor the nickname "Gatling Gun Sharpe". This incident was considered a precursor to the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike.
After 1906, Sharpe did not seek another term as mayor and returned to business interests.