George Luther Hathaway
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
George Luther Hathaway (1813-1872) was a New Brunswick politician. He entered politics as a reformer and advocate of responsible government. Hathaway was a noted drinker and would sip brandy while campaigning. He was elected to the colony's legislative assembly in 1850 and re-elected in 1854 and 1856 but lost his seat in 1857. He returned to the house in 1861 and became chief commissioner of public works. In 1865, Hathaway objected to the terms of Canadian confederation and resigned from his government position when the terms were accepted by the government of Samuel Leonard Tilley. Hathaway's resignation helped defeat the government and he was re-elected as an Anti-Confederate later that year but rejected Lieutenant Governor Arthur H. Gordon's invitation to form a new government. Hathaway instead became chief commissioner of public works in the government of Albert James Smith. He did not run in the 1866 election that elected the Confederation Party but ran in 1870 (three years after New Brunswick became a Canadian province) and was elected to the provincial legislature as a Conservative. Party loyalties were weak during this period, however, and in February 1871 he helped depose the government of Conservative Premier George E. King who was considered too close to the federal Tories and became leader of a new Conservative government.
Hathaway's government passed a controversial school bill which would have enacted direct taxation for education. He ran on this issue in the 1871 election and won. The school act called for “free, tax supported, non-sectarian schools” and was opposed both by opponents of direct taxation and by the Roman Catholic clergy who saw the bill as a threat to Catholic schools.
On June 25, 1872 Hatheway 's hand was seriously injured when he jumped from a moving train. He ended up dying as a result of blood poisoning.
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Preceded by: George E. King 1880-1871 |
Premier of New Brunswick 1871-1872 |
Succeeded by: George E. King 1872-1878 |
