Sir Richard Squires | |
|---|---|
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| 6th Prime Minister of Newfoundland | |
| In office November 17, 1919 – July 24, 1923 | |
| Monarch | George V |
| Governor | Charles Alexander Harris William Allardyce |
| Preceded by | Michael Patrick Cashin |
| Succeeded by | William Warren |
| In office November 17, 1928 – June 11, 1932 | |
| Monarch | George V |
| Governor | John Middleton |
| Preceded by | Frederick C. Alderdice |
| Succeeded by | Frederick C. Alderdice |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1880-01-18)18 January 1880 Harbour Grace,Colony of Newfoundland |
| Died | 26 March 1940(1940-03-26) (aged 60) St. John's,Newfoundland |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Spouse | Helena Squires |
Sir Richard Anderson SquiresKCMG (January 18, 1880 – March 26, 1940) was thePrime Minister ofNewfoundland from 1919 to 1923 and from 1928 to 1932.
As prime minister, Squires attempted to reform Newfoundland's fishing industry, but failed at doing so. He also attempted to diversify Newfoundland's economy. However, his two tenures as prime minister were both marred by serious corruption. He lost the position in 1923 after an arrest for bribery. In 1932, he narrowly escaped ariot, which forced him from power, and ended democracy in Newfoundland.
While Squires retired after the riot, he continued to campaign against rule by the British Crown under theCommission of Government. He died in 1940, at the age of 60.
Squires was born inHarbour Grace,Newfoundland in 1880. He started out practising law inSt. John's. He served as a member in the government ofEdward Patrick Morris from 1913 to 1918. In 1919, Squires started a campaign for the vacant leadership of theLiberal Party. He won the leadership overWilliam Warren.
Squires won the election of 1919 over SirMichael Cashin of theNewfoundland People's Party (later called theLiberal-Labour-Progressive Party). He did this by forming an alliance with theFisherman's Protective Union ofWilliam Coaker under the name of theLiberal Reform Party.
During his first government, Squires started the development of theHumber River. He also attempted many reforms suggested by Coaker. These reforms would have regulated the fishery but failed because of a collapse in fish prices which was blamed on Coaker's reforms.
Squires's government attempted to diversify the economy and, to this end, financially assisted the failing transinsular railway operated by theReid Newfoundland Company, finally nationalizing the railway in 1923.
Squires's government was accused of using bribes to win the 1923 General Election. A cabinet minister, Dr.Alex A. Campbell, was in the centre of the scandal. Several other cabinet members demanded Campbell be forced to resign. When Squires refused they said they wouldcross the floor. The Attorney General William Warren issued an arrest warrant for Squires. Squires was arrested and later released on bond. He then resigned as prime minister.
Squires remained in theHouse of Assembly, as an independent member. In the next year, Newfoundland saw four governments fall. It was not untilWalter Monroe won the 1924 election that stability was restored. Squires remained in the background working on a possible return to power. In 1928, Walter Monroe resigned as prime minister and was replaced by his cousinFrederick C. Alderdice. In the election of 1928, Squires returned as Liberal leader and defeated the Conservatives.
His next government started out well, seeing the election of his wifeHelena Squires as the first woman to sit in the House of Assembly. However, Newfoundland was struck hard by theGreat Depression; fish prices fell and an already severe public debt worsened. In 1932 Canada refused his request to join theCanadian Confederation.
Widespread unemployment caused by the Great Depression and allegations ofcorruption against Squires and his government along with the government's inability to deal with the economic crisis created widespread discontent and political instability.
In 1932, Squires's finance minister,Peter John Cashin, resigned from theexecutive council accusing his fellow cabinet ministers of widespread corruption and Squires himself of having falsified council minutes to hide the fact that he had been receiving secret payments out of public funds. Cashin's charge inflamed a public which had already been seized by discontent due to the deteriorating economic situation in the country.
On April 5, 1932, a large parade was organized by the opposition. They marched to theColonial Building which was the seat of the House of Assembly. There were over 10,000 people at the protest and things got out of control, leading to the1932 Colonial Building riot.
The crowd got angry when no one came out to address them. After a short while, several people managed to break into the building. Squires and government members had to escape around the back. Squires was nearly caught trying to get into a cab; he got away only by running through a house on Colonial Street (near the Colonial Building) to a waiting cab on Bannerman Street.
Squires had little choice but to dissolve his government and call anelection, the result of which was the defeat of the Liberal government and the loss of Squires's own seat. The Liberals won only two seats out of 28. Alderdice, who was still leader of the opposition, came to power and went about putting into place aCommission of Government, ending democracy in Newfoundland until 1949, when Newfoundland joined Canada.
Squires retired but always remained active in his opposition to the Commission of Government. He died at the age of 60, in 1940.
At the time of his death he was WorshipfulGrand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of British America, one of the few democratic institutions operating during the Commission of Government period.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Newfoundland 1919–1923 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Newfoundland 1928–1932 | Succeeded by |
| Colonial prime ministers and premiers (1855–1907) | |
|---|---|
| Dominion prime ministers (1907–34) | |
| Chairmen of the Commission of Government (1934–49) | |
| Provincial premiers (1949–present) | |
| International | |
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| National | |
