Hatheway, George Luther

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: W. A. Spray, “HATHEWAY, GEORGE LUTHER,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 10, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–,. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/hatheway_george_luther_10E.html
  • DCB profile notes:
    • Farmer, merchant, lumberman, and politician; b. at Musquash, Sunbury County, N.B., 4 Aug. 1813, son of Calvin Luther Hatheway and his wife Sarah; m. in June 1840 to Martha Slason of Fredericton (there were no children); d. 5 July 1872 at Fredericton, N.B.
    • George Luther Hatheway attended school in Saint John, New Brunswick. He settled at Durham Bridge, York County, where he became a farmer, country merchant, and lumber operator. He later moved to Saint Mary’s across the Saint John River from Fredericton. At the time of his death he owned large areas of timber land.
    • Hatheway, a born politician, entered politics in 1850 as a reformer. Loud and boisterous, he was also warm-hearted, yet a formidable adversary in any debate. He was the central figure at any social gathering and he appealed to rural voters who felt he was one of them. He was able to do things which would have ruined other politicians. During his election campaigns he frequently dispatched messengers to the nearest tavern for brandy which he drank in full view of his audience
    • Hatheway, a supporter of responsible government, was elected in 1850, 1854, and 1856. He advocated in 1851 a bill to make the Legislative Council elective. In 1856 he introduced perhaps the most important legislation passed that year – a bill giving the Executive Council the sole right to initiate money grants. He was defeated in the 1857 election but in 1861 was back in the house and became chief commissioner of public works.
    • In 1865 Hatheway objected to the terms under which it was proposed that New Brunswick enter confederation. These terms were accepted by the majority of Samuel Leonard Tilley’s government and Hatheway was the only member who decided to resign, which he did in January 1865, thus weakening the government. Hatheway has been criticized for his apparent lack of political conviction and his willingness to change sides when an issue seemed doomed to failure, yet, in deserting the Tilley government in 1865, he appears genuinely to have believed that the terms discussed at the Quebec conference of 1864 were not advantageous to New Brunswick. He demonstrated his sincerity in later years when he fought for better terms.
  • Grandson of Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory –https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=3658
  • Find a GRAVE: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143392758/george_luther-hatheway