Edward Evans (1819 – July 15, 1898) was a Newfoundland merchant and politician who represented the district of Burin in the House of Assembly from 1861 to 1873.
Edward Evans | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly for Burin | |
| In office May 2, 1861 – November 6, 1873 | |
| Preceded by | James J. Rogerson Ambrose Shea |
| Succeeded by | Charles R. Ayre James S. Winter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1819 |
| Died | July 15, 1898 (aged 78–79) Grand Bank, Newfoundland Colony |
| Party | Conservative |
| Occupation | Merchant, lawyer |
Mercantile career and politics
editEvans was born in the fishing village of Grand Bank and was educated at the local Wesleyan academy there. He established himself as a prominent merchant and lawyer serving clients in the south coast of Newfoundland.[1]
Evans first attempted to enter politics in the 1859 general election as a Conservative candidate in the district of Burin alongside party leader Hugh Hoyles, but the ticket narrowly lost to the Liberal candidates.[2] They were successful in the subsequent 1861 election that saw a very narrow victory for Hoyles' Conservative caucus.[1] When Hoyles resigned in 1865, Frederick Carter succeeded him as both premier and Evans' colleague in the Burin district for that year's general election. A supporter of Newfoundland's confederation with Canada, Evans retained his support of Carter and his administration in the 1869 election contest over the issue. Although the two men won re-election by a razor-thin margin of just two or three votes, the Conservative caucus were defeated by the Anti-Confederation Party led by Charles Fox Bennett.[1]
Evans chose to retire in 1873 and he was subsequently appointed as a justice of the peace in Grand Bank.[1] He spent the remainder of his life there and died on July 15, 1898.[3]
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 Riggs, Bert (1981). "Evans, Edward". Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador, volume 1. St. John's: Newfoundland Book Publisher Ltd. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- ↑ "In the matter of the Election for the District of Burin". The Newfoundland Express. 12 November 1859. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- ↑ "Death of Mr. E. Evans". Evening Telegram. 16 July 1898. Retrieved 13 June 2026.