Sir Edward Dalton Shea (June 29, 1820 – January 8, 1913) was a journalist and political figure in

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the population ...

. He represented

Ferryland Ferryland is a town in Newfoundland and Labrador on the Avalon Peninsula. According to the 2021 Statistics Canada census, its population is 371. Seventeenth century settlement Ferryland was originally established as a station for migratory fi ...

in the

Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly () is the Unicameralism, unicameral deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It meets in the Confederation Bu ...

from 1855 to 1865 as a Liberal and then Conservative member.

Career

He was born in St. John's, the son of Henry Shea, an Irish-born merchant, and Eleanor Ryan. After completing his education, in 1836, he entered work in his father's business. In 1846, Shea became editor and publisher for ''The Newfoundlander'', which had been previously edited by his brothers William Richard Shea and

Ambrose Shea Sir Ambrose Shea (17 September 1815 – 30 July 1905) was a political and business figure in colonial Newfoundland who later served as Governor of the Bahamas. He was one of two Newfoundland delegates to the Quebec Conference that led to Can ...

. He married Gertrude Corbett in 1849. Shea and his brother Ambrose became Conservatives in 1865 and he was named financial secretary for Newfoundland. In 1866, he was named to the

Legislative Council of Newfoundland The Legislative Council of Newfoundland was the upper house of the General Assembly of Newfoundland from 1833 to 1934. The Legislative Council was appointed by the governor of Newfoundland, not elected. Bills were submitted by the House of Asse ...

. Shea ran unsuccessfully for reelection to the assembly in 1873. In 1874, he was named colonial secretary. In 1886, he was named president of the Legislative Council, serving until 1912, and cashier for the

Newfoundland Savings Bank Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic Canada, Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland (island), Newfoundland and the continent ...

, retaining that position until 1905. Shea was made a

knight bachelor The title of Knight Bachelor is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised Order of chivalry, orders of chivalry; it is a part of the Orders, decorations, and medals ...

on 14 August 1902, after the honour had been announced in the

1902 Coronation Honours The 1902 Coronation Honours were announced on 26 June 1902, the date originally set for the coronation of King Edward VII. The coronation was postponed because the King had been taken ill two days before, but he ordered that the honours list shou ...

list published on 26 June 1902. He died in St. John's at the age of 92 in 1913.

Family

His son, George Shea, also served in the Newfoundland assembly. His daughter, Emily Shea, who was born and educated in Newfoundland, married, 1881, Captain

Henry Moore Jackson Captain Sir Henry Moore Jackson, (bapt. 13 August 1849 – 29 August 1908) was a British Army officer and colonial governor. Biography Jackson was born in Barbados to Walrond Jackson, who became the Anglican Bishop of Antigua, and Mary Sheph ...

, R.A., a son of the Bishop of Antigua. Emily's husband was created a C.M.G. in 1892, a K.C.M.G. in 1899, became Governor of the Leeward Islands in 1901, and Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific in 1902.

References

* 19th-century members of the Newfoundland House of Assembly Knights Bachelor 1820 births 1913 deaths Politicians from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Members of the Legislative Council of Newfoundland Dominion of Newfoundland politicians Newfoundland Colony people Colonial secretaries of Newfoundland {{Newfoundland-politician-stub