Ambrose Shea

Sir Ambrose Shea KCMG (17 September 1815 – 30 July 1905), from Newfoundland was a political and business figure in Colonial Newfoundland and later served as Governor of the Bahamas. He was one of two Newfoundland delegates to the Québec Conference that led to Canadian confederation.

Shea was born in St. John's, Newfoundland. He worked for a time on The Newfoundlander, a family-owned newspaper, before going into business for himself.

By the 1850s, he was a successful merchant who also dealt in insurance, and acted as the agent for the transatlantic steamer trade. He continued to operate the business during most of his political career. In addition, he helped found the Newfoundland Natives Society in 1840, serving on the management committee in 1842, and as president in 1846.

Although he had been suggested as a candidate for the Newfoundland House of Assembly in 1842, Shea declined a nomination. In 1848 that he ran and won as a Liberal member for Placentia-St. Mary's and supported the campaign for responsible government. He was also the party's spokesman on reciprocity with the United States and was a delegate to negotiations in Washington in 1853.

In the first responsible government election in 1855, Shea was elected to the House of Assembly from St. John's West, and was appointed Speaker. However, tensions soon arose between those members who were immigrants to Newfoundland, and those, including Shea, who were born there. There were also difficulties between Shea and Prime Minister John Kent, who took office in 1858. Despite the conflicts, the Liberals retained power after the 1859 election. Shea won elected from Burin and remained Speaker after the election. He was absent much of the time from the fall session of 1860, and many believed that he was organizing a covert campaign against Kent. When the Kent government collapsed, and Hugh Hoyles was invited to form a minority Conservative government in 1861, Shea was offered a cabinet post but declined. In the election held that year, Shea was elected in Placentia. The Liberals were soundly defeated. After Kent's departure, Shea became party leader.

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