Frederick Alderdice

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Frederick Charles Munro Alderdice (born November 10, 1872 in Belfast , † February 26, 1936 in St. John's , Newfoundland ) was a Newfoundland businessman and politician and two-time Prime Minister of the Dominion Newfoundland .

Alderdice was born on November 10, 1872 in the Belfast district of Stranmillis to William Alderdice and Rachael Kathleen Monroe. He attended Methodist College in Belfast. In his youth he suffered an injury playing rugby that resulted in blood poisoning, which over the years resulted in the loss of both feet and part of a leg. Alderdice went to St. John's, Newfoundland in 1886 to work for his uncle Moses Monroe in the Colonial Cordage Company, a company that manufactured nets and ropes for the Newfoundland fishery. After working in accounting, he was promoted to management in 1904 and headed the company from 1922, after the death of his uncle Harvey Monroe, until his death.

His cousin Prime Minister Walter Stanley Monroe appointed him to the Legislative Council, the Upper House of Newfoundland, in 1924. After the resignation of Prime Minister Monroe Alderdice was his successor on August 16, 1928. In the parliamentary elections of October 1928, Alderdice's Conservative Party was defeated, receiving only 12 seats out of 40. Alderdice won its constituency of St John's City East. Richard Squires of the Liberal Party became the new Prime Minister . Alderdice formed the new United Newfoundland Party out of the Liberal-Conservatives and defectors of the Liberals and became opposition leader in the Newfoundland House of Assembly. Newfoundland has suffered from high levels of debt since the end of World War I, made worse by the Great Depression . In 1931 the national bankruptcy could only be averted by a loan from Canadian banks accompanied by strict conditions. A further worsening of the financial crisis led to an increase in unemployment and further spending cuts. After allegations of corruption against the government and the Prime Minister, riots broke out in St. John's on April 5, culminating in the storming of the government and parliament building. Prime Minister Squires, who narrowly escaped the mob, scheduled new elections for June 11, 1932.

The United Newfoundland Party won 24 of 27 seats. Alderdice won the constituency of St. John's City West and became Prime Minister. He also took over the Ministry of Finance. Despite a sharp cut in government spending, Alderdice believed that the national debt could no longer be serviced. However, the request to suspend interest payments was denied by the British government, which brokered further loans through an Anglo-British consortium and forced the establishment of a commission headed by Lord Amulree. Under pressure from the Dominion Office, the commission recommended one from the UK Government guaranteed debt rescheduling at lower rates and the dissolution of the independent Newfoundland government. The Newfoundland Parliament approved the suspension of the Constitution in November 1933, and on February 16, 1934 a British government commission took over the administration of Newfoundland. Alderdice became vice chairman of the commission and was responsible for home affairs and education. He was a member of the commission until his death.

Alderdice married Harriett Carter on October 25, 1900. They had 2 sons and 2 daughters. Alderdice died on February 26, 1936 of complications from a cerebral haemorrhage.

literature

  • Calherince Horan: Alderdice, Frederick Charles . In: Joseph Roberts Smallwood, Robert DW Pitt (Eds.): Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador . Vol. 1. Newfoundland Book Publishers, St. John's 1981, ISBN 0-920508-14-6 , pp. 35 f . (English, online at Memorial University of Newfoundland [accessed September 14, 2014]).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ His date of birth is given in most sources as 1872. Jeff A. Webb: ALDERDICE, FREDERICK CHARLES MUNRO . In: Dictionary of Canadian Biography . 24 volumes, 1966–2018. University of Toronto Press, Toronto ( English , French ). cites 10 November 1871, however, and refers as the source to: General Register Office, Roscommon, Ireland: Reg. of births, Stranmillis (Belfast), 10 Nov. 1871 .
  2. ^ Elections. GeneralElection # 27 . In: Joseph Roberts Smallwood, Robert DW Pitt (Eds.): Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador . Vol. 1. Newfoundland Book Publishers, St. John's 1981, ISBN 0-920508-14-6 , pp.  715-717 ( online at Memorial University Newfoundland [accessed September 14, 2014]).
  3. ^ Riot of April 5, 1932. Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage, accessed September 7, 2014 .
  4. ^ Elections. GeneralElection # 28 . In: Joseph Roberts Smallwood, Robert DW Pitt (Eds.): Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador . Vol. 1. Newfoundland Book Publishers, St. John's 1981, ISBN 0-920508-14-6 , pp.  717-719 ( online at Memorial University Newfoundland [accessed September 14, 2014]).
  5. ^ The Newfoundland Royal Commission, 1933 (The Amulree Commission). Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage, accessed September 7, 2014 .
  6. ↑ Ettie L. Gordon Murray: Amulree Report . In: Joseph Roberts Smallwood, Robert DW Pitt (Eds.): Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador . Vol. 1. Newfoundland Book Publishers, St. John's 1981, ISBN 0-920508-14-6 , pp. 43 ( online at Memorial University of Newfoundland [accessed September 14, 2014]).
  7. ^ The Commission of Government, 1934-1949. Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage, accessed September 7, 2014 .
personal data
SURNAME Alderdice, Frederick
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Alderdice, Frederick Charles Munro
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Newfoundland entrepreneur and politician
DATE OF BIRTH November 10, 1872
PLACE OF BIRTH Belfast
DATE OF DEATH February 26, 1936
Place of death St. John's , Newfoundland