John Kent (Newfoundland politician)

Early life

Kent was born in County Waterford, Ireland in 1805. He arrived in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1820 as an employee of his uncle, Patrick Morris, a successful businessman and political reformer. Kent had become well-known in St. John's in his own right by 1830 as an auctioneer. He had a close relationship with Catholic Bishop Michael Anthony Fleming, who became Kent's brother-in-law upon his marriage to Fleming's sister Johanna Fleming in 1834.

Politics

Kent was involved in the movement for electoral reform led by his uncle Patrick Morris and William Carson. When the British Colonial Office granted representative government to Newfoundland in 1832, he was elected to the first House of Assembly as a Liberal with the help of Bishop Fleming. Kent expressed dissatisfaction with the constitution of the time, believing it was "half-developed" and gave too much power to the small Council comprising the legislature's upper house.

Kent was an empassioned champion of Catholic rights on an island which was then deeply divided along denominational lines. P. B. Waite described him as a demagogue who "enjoyed the storm and rode it to his own advantage." Kent's fiery rhetoric brought him into conflict with local surgeon Edward Kielley, who threatened to assault him in August 1838. The resulting legal case, Kielley v. Carson, lasted for several years. While the Supreme Court of Newfoundland found Kielley guilty, their decision was overruled by the Privy Council in 1842, which ruled that parliamentary privileges enjoyed in the House of Commons did not necessarily extend to colonial legislatures.

Kent was nominated to the Council in 1842 under the amalgamated legislature instituted by Governor John Harvey, but he returned to the House when they were separated again in 1848. That year, he was elected as the Speaker of the House of Assembly. By this time, he was an advocate of responsible government, which was granted to the colony of Newfoundland in 1855. Kent was appointed as the Colonial Secretary in the Executive Council of Philip Francis Little, the island's first premier.

Premiership (1858–1861)

Kent became Premier after Little resigned in 1858. Although the Liberals won the 1859 election, the prosperity of Little's premiership had ended with a drop in colonial revenues in 1859. Kent was unable to command the Liberal caucus as effectively as Little had. He ran into conflict with Governor Alexander Bannerman, who believed Kent's "dictatorial methods" were ill-suited for negotiations with France regarding the French Shore. He also clashed with Fleming's successor Bishop John Thomas Mullock.

Kent's government was engulfed by crisis in 1861 when Receiver General Thomas Glen filed a motion to lower the salary of government officials. When this bill faced legal threats from various government employees, Kent accused Governor Bannerman of colluding with the Conservative Party and the aforementioned judges. After Bannerman asked for clarification on what Kent meant and Kent refused to elaborate, Kent's government was dissolved on March 1, 1861, and Conservative leader Hugh Hoyles was appointed Premier in his stead. Kent was taken aback by this move and called it a "gross act of treachery".

The Liberals defeated the Conservative government in a Motion of No Confidence. The subsequent 1861 election was plagued by sectarian violence. Although Kent himself was re-elected the Conservatives gained a narrow victory over the Liberal party, reaffirming Hoyles' premiership.

Kent spent his last few years in the House of Assembly as a supporter of Newfoundland's confederation into Canada. He was amongst the delegates sent to Ottawa in 1869 to discuss the possibility of Confederation. He retired that same year and did not run in the 1869 election.

Death

Kent died suddenly in St. John's on September 1, 1872. His wife Johanna and at least two of their children survived him.

References

References

1. Krachun, Carla. (1991). "Kent, John". Harry Cuff Publications Ltd..
2. Waite, P.B.. "Kent, John".
3. (1981). "Parliamentary Privilege in Newfoundland: The Strange Case of Kielly vs Carson". [[Canadian Parliamentary Review]].
4. Janes, Diane. (1984). "The Kent Administration (1858–1861)". Harry Cuff Publications Ltd..
5. Webb, Jeff A.. "The Election Riots of 1861". Heritage Newfoundland & Labrador.