Henry Emmerson Explained

Henry Emmerson should not be confused with Henry Read Emmerson.

Henry Robert Emmerson
Order:9th Premier of New Brunswick
Term Start:October 29, 1897
Term End:August 31, 1900
Predecessor:James Mitchell
Successor:Lemuel J. Tweedie
Lieutenant Governor:Abner Reid McClelan
Office1:MLA for Albert
Term Start1:September 28, 1888
Term End1:January 20, 1890
Predecessor1:W.J. Lewis
Successor1:W.J. Lewis
Alongside1:Gaius S. Turner
Term Start2:October 22, 1892
Term End2:August 31, 1900
Predecessor2:Gaius S. Turner
Successor2:Sanford S. Ryan
Alongside2:W.J. Lewis, Charles J. Osman
Constituency Mp3:Westmorland
Parliament3:Canadian
Term Start3:November 7, 1900
Term End3:July 9, 1914
Predecessor3:Henry Absalom Powell
Successor3:Arthur Bliss Copp
Birth Date:September 25, 1853
Birth Place:Maugerville, New Brunswick, Canada
Death Place:Dorchester, New Brunswick, Canada
Party:Liberal
Children:Ethel Record Deacon, Henry Read Emmerson, Emily Keillor Cornell, Bernice Seaman McQueen, Marion Bennett Bowes
Alma Mater:St. Joseph's College
Acadia College
Boston University
Occupation:Lawyer, businessman and philanthropist
Profession:Politician

Henry Robert Emmerson, (September 25, 1853 – July 9, 1914) was a Canadian lawyer, businessman, politician, and philanthropist who served as Premier of New Brunswick from 1897 to 1900.

Henry Emmerson was educated at Amherst Academy, Mount Allison Academy, St. Joseph's College, Acadia College and earned a law degree from Boston University. He went on to a lucrative law practice and was heavily involved in business. He was involved in woollen manufacturing, was a director of the Maritime Baptist Publishing Company Limited, president of the New Brunswick Petroleum Company Limited, the Acadia Coal and Coke Company, and the Sterling Coal Company, as well as a director of the Record Foundry and Machine Company.

He attempted to win a seat in the House of Commons of Canada in 1887 but was unsuccessful. The next year he was elected to the provincial legislature then after the win was contested by his opponent and a new election contest ordered in 1889, Emmerson won the seat. In 1891 he was appointed to the Legislative Council of the province and oversaw its abolition. He re-entered the House of Assembly and in October 1892 was appointed to the Executive Council, serving as Chief Commissioner of Public Works in the Liberal government of Premier Andrew George Blair.

As commissioner, Emmerson stopped the practice of building bridges out of wood and opted for more permanent, and more expensive, materials thus driving up the province's public debt. He also supported women's suffrage.

Emmerson became Premier in 1897. During his tenure, he briefly held the position of Attorney-General. His government tried to promote tourism and wheat farming and the development of natural gas and petroleum in the province. In 1899, he introduced legislation to grant women the right to vote but in a free vote, the bill was defeated.

Emmerson left provincial politics in 1900 to become a Liberal MP in the House of Commons of Canada. From 1904 to 1907 he was Minister of Railways and Canals in the federal cabinet of Sir Wilfrid Laurier.Although he was regarded as brilliant, capable, and personable, his alcoholism and reputation as a womanizer hampered his career. In 1906, an exasperated Laurier had Emmerson sign a pledge that he would "never . . . again taste wine, beer or any other mixed or intoxicating liquor" and that he would provide the prime minister with an undated and signed letter of resignation to be used should he fail in his promise. The letter of resignation was invoked in 1907 after The Daily Gleaner newspaper reported that Emmerson was thrown out of a Montreal hotel with "two women of ill repute". He denied the allegations but on April 1 submitted his resignation from Cabinet, which Laurier accepted. Emmerson filed an unsuccessful lawsuit against the Daily Gleaner for defamation and libel.

Henry Emerson remained a member of parliament for another seven years until his death in 1914.[1] In his later years, Emmerson donated the money to build a new library, named Emmerson Hall, at Acadia University in honour of his father, the Rev. Robert Henry Emmerson.[2] [3]

His son, Henry Read Emmerson, was also elected to the Canadian House of Commons and was appointed to the Senate of Canada. His great great grandson was Chris Cornell, lead singer of Soundgarden.[4] His great great great grandson is professional ice hockey player Noah Dobson.

Electoral record

By-election: on Mr. Emmerson being appointed Minister of Railways and Canals:|-|Liberal|Henry Emmerson|align="right"|acclaimed

References

Notes and References

  1. News: H. R. Emmerson, Once Minister of Railways, Is Dead At Home. The Ottawa Journal. 9 Jul 1914. 1. Newspapers.com. 24 December 2016.
  2. Douglas How, "One Village, One War, 1914-45", Lancelot Press, 1995: Emerson, "...the son of a Baptist divine . . . eventually ran into trouble as a Laurier cabinet minister . . . because he wasn't as divine as he should be." (p. 95)
  3. Web site: Rocks and Building Stones of Acadia University - Earth and Environmental Science. ees.acadiau.ca. en. 2018-08-15.
  4. Web site: FamilySearch.org. 25 June 2023.