Frederick C. Alderdice
| Frederick C. Alderdice | |
|---|---|
| 9th Prime Minister of Newfoundland | |
|
In office August 15, 1928 – November 17, 1928 |
|
| Monarch | George V |
| Governor |
William Allardyce John Middleton |
| Preceded by | Walter Stanley Monroe |
| Succeeded by | Richard Squires |
|
In office June 11, 1932 – February 16, 1934 |
|
| Monarch | George V |
| Governor |
John Middleton David Murray Anderson |
| Preceded by | Richard Squires |
| Succeeded by | Position Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 10, 1872 Belfast, Ireland |
| Died | February 26, 1936 (aged 63) Canada |
| Nationality | Newfoundlander |
| Political party | United Newfoundland Party |
Frederick Charles Alderdice (November 10, 1872 – February 26, 1936) was a Newfoundland businessman, politician and the last Prime Minister of Newfoundland. Alderdice was born in Belfast, Ireland and was educated at Methodist College Belfast. He moved to Newfoundland in 1886. A prominent St. John's businessman, Alderdice was appointed to the Legislative Council of Newfoundland (the Upper House of the legislature) in 1924 and became leader of the Liberal-Conservative Progressive Party and the dominion's Prime Minister when his cousin Walter Stanley Monroe retired from the post on August 15, 1928. Alderdice's first term as Prime Minister was short-lived, however, as his government lost that year's general election to the Liberals led by Sir Richard Squires.
Alderdice joined with Liberals dissatisfied with Squires to form the United Newfoundland Party with himself as leader. The Great Depression embroiled the dominion in a severe economic crisis which was compounded by corruption in the Squires government taking the dominion to the brink of bankruptcy. Widespread unemployment added to the crisis and resulted in an anti-government riot in St. John's on April 5, 1932. The Squires government collapsed and Alderdice swept to power in the ensuing June election on the promise that if elected, his government would examine the possibility of suspending the constitution and having a commission administer the country until conditions improved. His United Newfoundland Party won 24 seats to only two for the Liberals.
...
Wikipedia