George Shea

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For the gospel singer, see George Beverly Shea.

George Edward Shea (1851 - 1932) politician. Born in St. John's, son of Gertrude (Corbett) and Edward D. Shea. Educated St. John's; Ampleforth College, England. Married (1) Louisa Pinsent; (2) Margaret Rendell.

In 1870 George joined the family business as a clerk. Shea and Company were shipping agents for Royal Mail Steamships, the Allan Line and the Ross Steamship Line. In 1887, when his uncle Ambrose Shea was appointed governor of the Bahamas, George succeeded him as managing partner in the firm. He was later an agent for the North British Mercantile Insurance Company and a member of the Newfoundland Board of Revenue.

Shea's political career began in 1885 when he ran as a Liberal in Ferryland, a district his father had also represented. He was elected by acclamation as a supporter of Ambrose Shea, who led the Catholic-Liberal party in a highly sectarian contest. George was re-elected as an independent in 1889, but was defeated by Liberal candidates Michael Cashin and Daniel Greene in 1893. Again elected MHA for Ferryland in 1897, Shea served for two years as minister without portfolio in the government of Sir James Spearman Winter. In 1902 Shea was elected as the first mayor of St. John's. During his term he implemented improvements to the water system and brought the city's finances under control. He continued as mayor until 1906, having meanwhile re-entered the House of Assembly in 1904 as the Liberal representative for the district of St. John's East.

George was minister without portfolio in the government of Sir Robert Bond from 1904 to 1909 and was re-elected in 1908 and 1909. After Bond resisted invitations to return to public life in 1917 and 1918 Shea endorsed Richard Squires and the Liberal Reform Party. George retired from business in 1919 and the following year was appointed by Squires to the Legislative Council. He occasionally served as acting Prime Minister in Squire's absence.

While a member for St. George's (1887-1900) Gibbs established a reputation as an advocate of trade unionism and as a skilled negotiator on behalf of labour. He was instrumental in launching the Longshoremen's Protective Union (LSPU) in 1903 and remained LSPU counsel until his death. Gibbs also helped St. John's bakers and carpenters to organize, and he became Mayor of St. John's in 1906 as a Labour candidate.

When Edward Patrick Morris resigned from the Bond Administration Gibbs was offered Morris's cabinet post as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, but declined and joined Morris in forming the Newfoundland People's Party. After defeats in the ensuing general elections of 1908 and 1909 Gibbs was appointed to the Legislative Council and made Minister without portfolio in the Morris Administration, refusing further cabinet posts after Morris's resignation in 1918. Gibbs was appointed President of the Legislative Council in 1930, maintaining that position until 1934 when the council was disbanded.