This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Find sources: "John Kent" Newfoundland politician – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR(January 2018)
John Kent (1805 – 1 September 1872) arrived in Newfoundland in 1820 and started working for his uncle, Patrick Morris, a successful businessman and entrepreneur.
He was elected to the first House of Assembly in 1832 as a Liberal. Kent was a champion of Catholic rights on an island that was then deeply divided along religious lines, which his actions directly exacerbated. He was described in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography (DCB) as a demagogue who "enjoyed the storm and rode it to his own advantage", a style of politicking later followed in similar fashion by, among others, Edward Murphy Jr. (of Troy, New York) and Richard J. Daley (of Chicago). The DCB states, "Kent's electioneering was a compound of his own strident vitality, intimidation, and clerical influence. Newfoundland in 1832 had virtually universal suffrage under a household franchise, and it was not difficult to secure election by turbulent, and very effective means. Kent was of the school of Reformers who relished quarrels with authority."[1]
From 1848–55 he was Speaker of the Newfoundland House of Assembly. He became Premier after Little resigned in 1858. He won the election of 1859 but his government was engulfed by crisis in 1861 when it tried to lower the salary of government officials, including judges who sued the government.[1]
In the legislature, Kent accused Governor Sir Alexander Bannerman and the opposition Conservatives of conspiring with the judges against the government. Bannerman, who despised Kent's "dictatorial methods and disliked his administration",[1] responded by dismissing Kent's government in March 1861, which Kent described as a "gross act of treachery".[1]
The Liberals defeated the Conservative government in a Motion of No Confidence. The Conservatives narrowly defeated Kent's Liberals in a sometimes violent election campaign fought along sectarian lines with Catholics largely voting Liberal and Protestants largely voting Conservative.[1] Riots erupted in the heavily Catholic Harbour Grace area when Bannerman cancelled voting there. Later that same year, 1861, Hugh Hoyles was appointed by Bannerman as Conservative Premier of the new government.[1][2]
Deathedit
Kent died at St John's on 1 September 1872. His wife, a sister of Michael Anthony Fleming, Bishop of Newfoundland, and at least two of their children, survived him.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghWaite, P.B. (1972). "Kent, John". In Hayne, David (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. X (1871–1880) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
^Webb, Jeff A. "The Election Riots of 1861". Heritage Newfoundland & Labrador. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
john, kent, newfoundland, politician, other, people, named, john, kent, john, kent, disambiguation, this, article, relies, largely, entirely, single, source, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, citations,. For other people named John Kent see John Kent disambiguation This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources John Kent Newfoundland politician news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2018 John Kent 1805 1 September 1872 arrived in Newfoundland in 1820 and started working for his uncle Patrick Morris a successful businessman and entrepreneur John KentPremier of NewfoundlandIn office 16 July 1858 March 1861MonarchVictoriaLieutenant GovernorAlexander BannermanPreceded byPhilip Francis LittleSucceeded byHugh W HoylesPersonal detailsBorn1805County Waterford IrelandDied1 September 1872 1872 09 01 aged 66 67 St John s Colony of NewfoundlandPolitical partyLiberal Party He was elected to the first House of Assembly in 1832 as a Liberal Kent was a champion of Catholic rights on an island that was then deeply divided along religious lines which his actions directly exacerbated He was described in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography DCB as a demagogue who enjoyed the storm and rode it to his own advantage a style of politicking later followed in similar fashion by among others Edward Murphy Jr of Troy New York and Richard J Daley of Chicago The DCB states Kent s electioneering was a compound of his own strident vitality intimidation and clerical influence Newfoundland in 1832 had virtually universal suffrage under a household franchise and it was not difficult to secure election by turbulent and very effective means Kent was of the school of Reformers who relished quarrels with authority 1 He worked for the reform movement along with his uncle Philip Morris and William Carson which successfully persuaded the British Colonial Office to institute responsible government in Newfoundland Kent became Colonial Secretary under Philip Francis Little 1 From 1848 55 he was Speaker of the Newfoundland House of Assembly He became Premier after Little resigned in 1858 He won the election of 1859 but his government was engulfed by crisis in 1861 when it tried to lower the salary of government officials including judges who sued the government 1 In the legislature Kent accused Governor Sir Alexander Bannerman and the opposition Conservatives of conspiring with the judges against the government Bannerman who despised Kent s dictatorial methods and disliked his administration 1 responded by dismissing Kent s government in March 1861 which Kent described as a gross act of treachery 1 The Liberals defeated the Conservative government in a Motion of No Confidence The Conservatives narrowly defeated Kent s Liberals in a sometimes violent election campaign fought along sectarian lines with Catholics largely voting Liberal and Protestants largely voting Conservative 1 Riots erupted in the heavily Catholic Harbour Grace area when Bannerman cancelled voting there Later that same year 1861 Hugh Hoyles was appointed by Bannerman as Conservative Premier of the new government 1 2 Death editKent died at St John s on 1 September 1872 His wife a sister of Michael Anthony Fleming Bishop of Newfoundland and at least two of their children survived him 1 References edit a b c d e f g h Waite P B 1972 Kent John In Hayne David ed Dictionary of Canadian Biography Vol X 1871 1880 online ed University of Toronto Press Retrieved 28 May 2017 Webb Jeff A The Election Riots of 1861 Heritage Newfoundland amp Labrador Retrieved 16 January 2021 Political offices Preceded byJames Crowdy Speaker of the Newfoundland House of Assembly1848 1855 Succeeded byAmbrose Shea Preceded byPhilip Francis Little Premier of Newfoundland1858 1861 Succeeded byHugh W Hoyles Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Kent Newfoundland politician amp oldid 1188694065, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
