Walter Stanley Monroe (May 14, 1871 – October 6, 1952) was a businessman and politician who served as Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1924 to 1928 as leader of the Liberal-Conservative Progressive Party.
Walter Stanley Monroe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 9th Prime Minister of Newfoundland | |
| In office June 9, 1924?– August 15, 1928 | |
| Monarch | George V |
| Governor | William Allardyce |
| Preceded by | Albert Hickman |
| Succeeded by | Frederick C. Alderdice |
| Member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly for Bonavista Bay | |
| In office June?2,?1924?– October?29,?1928 Serving with Lewis Little and William C. Winsor | |
| Preceded by | William Coaker Robert G. Winsor John Abbott |
| Succeeded by | J. H. Scammell William Coaker Robert G. Winsor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 14, 1871 Dublin, Ireland, United Kingdom |
| Died | October 6, 1952 (aged?81) St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal-Conservative Progressive |
| Spouse |
Helen Isobel Smith ? (m.?1899) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
He was born in Ireland in 1871, the first son of John Monroe, a distinguished lawyer who became Solicitor-General for Ireland, and his wife Elizabeth Moule. He was educated at the Harrow School, England. He emigrated to Newfoundland to join his uncle, Moses Monroe,[1] at the age of 17 in 1888.[2]
Monroe was a successful businessman who briefly served in the government of William Warren. He emerged from the political crisis that destroyed the governments of Sir Richard Squires and William Warren as leader of a new party, the Liberal-Conservative Progressive Party, which had been cobbled together by Warren and the opposition Conservatives after Warren's government fell. The party was essentially a conservative party and swept to power in the 1924 election, weeks after it was formed.
The Monroe government saw a successful settlement of the Labrador boundary dispute with Canada after Newfoundland successfully argued its case at the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. As prime minister, one of his first moves in power was to abolish the personal income tax, and to reduce corporate taxes paid by banks.[3] His government introduced a franchise bill to the legislature in 1925, where it passed unanimously on March 9, and became law on April 13, 1925. Now, women were allowed to vote in elections for the first time.[4] Monroe returned to private life and resigned on August 15, 1928[5] passing the leadership of the party to his cousin Frederick C. Alderdice who became the new prime minister. In 1929, Mr. Monroe was made a member of the Legislative Council of Newfoundland.[6]
References
edit- ^ Baker, Melvin (1986). "Moses Monroe".
- ^ Riggs, Bert (May 13, 2002). "Former PM saw Confederation arrive". The Telegram.
- ^ Riggs, Bert (May 13, 2002). "Former PM saw Confederation arrive". The Telegram.
- ^ "Women's suffrage". Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador.
- ^ "Hon. F.C. Alderdice dead in St. John's". The Gazette. February 27, 1936. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
- ^ "Hon. W.S. Monroe Dies at Age of 81". The Evening Telegram. October 7, 1952.