21st Premier of Prince Edward Island. A member of the Liberal Party, he served in this position from May 1953 until September 1959. Born in Bellevue, Prince Edward Island, Canada, he attended Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and became a schoolteacher for four years. He then studied law and in June 1933 he was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Charlottetown. In 1940 he entered politics and in November of that year, he was elected to the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly from the 2nd Queens district. During World War II, he served as a major in the Canadians Artillery Reserve. In the 1943 provincial election, he lost his seat but was re-elected in 1947, representing the 4th Kings district, serving until May 1966. In 1948 he served as Minister of Health and Welfare and in May 1953 he became Premier and Attorney General, replacing J. Walter Jones. During his tenure, he is best remembered for the rural electrification program and an extensive rural paving program in the province. In 1959 his government was defeated in the general election by the Progressive Conservative Party and he was replaced as Premier by Walter Russell Shaw. He remained in the Legislature as Leader of the Opposition until his retirement from politics in May 1966 and returned to his law practice. In March 1967 he was appointed a judge for Queens County, serving until March 1974 when he resigned for health reasons. He died in Charlottetown at the age of 72.
21st Premier of Prince Edward Island. A member of the Liberal Party, he served in this position from May 1953 until September 1959. Born in Bellevue, Prince Edward Island, Canada, he attended Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and became a schoolteacher for four years. He then studied law and in June 1933 he was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Charlottetown. In 1940 he entered politics and in November of that year, he was elected to the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly from the 2nd Queens district. During World War II, he served as a major in the Canadians Artillery Reserve. In the 1943 provincial election, he lost his seat but was re-elected in 1947, representing the 4th Kings district, serving until May 1966. In 1948 he served as Minister of Health and Welfare and in May 1953 he became Premier and Attorney General, replacing J. Walter Jones. During his tenure, he is best remembered for the rural electrification program and an extensive rural paving program in the province. In 1959 his government was defeated in the general election by the Progressive Conservative Party and he was replaced as Premier by Walter Russell Shaw. He remained in the Legislature as Leader of the Opposition until his retirement from politics in May 1966 and returned to his law practice. In March 1967 he was appointed a judge for Queens County, serving until March 1974 when he resigned for health reasons. He died in Charlottetown at the age of 72.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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