James McGrath (Canadian politician)

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Canadian Parliament
for St. John's East
In office
June 10, 1957 – April 8, 1963
Preceded byAllan Fraser
Succeeded byJoseph O'Keefe
In office
June 25, 1968 – September 5, 1986
Preceded byJoseph O'Keefe
Succeeded byJack Harris
Personal details
Born
James Aloysius McGrath

(1932-01-11)January 11, 1932
Buchans, Dominion of Newfoundland
DiedFebruary 28, 2017(2017-02-28) (aged 85)
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
NationalityCanadian
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Professionsales manager

James Aloysius McGrath,

eighth lieutenant governor of Newfoundland
, Canada.

Life

As a young man, McGrath was a member of the Responsible Government League which opposed Newfoundland becoming a province of Canada. Nevertheless, upon the dominion's joining confederation in 1949, McGrath left to enlist with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He returned to Newfoundland in 1953 and became sales manager with radio station CJON. In 1955, he became secretary of the provincial Progressive Conservative Party association. In 1956, he ran unsuccessfully for the party in the provincial election.

His daughter Robin McGrath is a poet and novelist.[1]

Federal politics

He entered federal politics the next year, and won a seat in the House of Commons of Canada in the 1957 election as the Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for St. John's East. In 1962, McGrath became parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys, and served in that position until he was defeated along with the Diefenbaker government in the 1963 election.

McGrath regained his seat in the 1968 election, and remained in parliament through five subsequent elections.

When the Progressive Conservatives formed the government following the

opposition bench when Clark's minority government was defeated in the 1980 election
.

McGrath was not included in the

Human Rights
.

Retirement

In August 1986, McGrath left politics to accept an appointment as Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland. He retired from the position in 1991.

Death

McGrath died at home on February 28, 2017.[3]

Arms

Coat of arms of James McGrath
Notes
The arms of James McGrath consist of:[4]
Crest
Upon a helmet mantled Rose and Vert doubled Argent on a wreath Argent, Rose and Vert a demi-lion Or gorged with an antique crown pendant therefrom a chevron Gules bearing in its dexter paw a trefoil slipped Vert.
Escutcheon
Tierced in pale Rose Argent and Vert over all a representation of the mace of the House of Commons of Canada in bend Or between six crosses botonny two in pale per pale Rose and Vert two in fess Argent two in bend sinister counterchanged.
Supporters
Two Caribou Argent langued Gules attired and unguled Or.
Compartment
On a rock Proper rising from waves Azure crested Argent.
Motto
Melius Est Nomen Bonum Quam Divitiae Multae

References

  1. ^ Aaron Peach, "Robin McGrath (1949-)". Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador, 2006.
  2. ^ J. Barry Turner, "Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians" Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine. Canadian Parliamentary Review, Autumn, 1996. As reprinted by The Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  3. ^ "Longtime politician, former lieutenant governor, James McGrath dies at 85 | CBC News".
  4. ^ Canadian Heraldic Authority (Volume II), Ottawa, 1990

External links

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