Sir Michael Patrick Cashin, (29 September 1864 – 30 August 1926) was a Newfoundland businessman and politician. He was elected to the legislature in 1893 as an independent but worked closely with the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

. In 1907 he joined the

Newfoundland People's Party The Newfoundland People's Party was a political party in the Dominion of Newfoundland before it joined Canada. The party was created by Attorney-General Edward Patrick Morris in 1907, when he split from the ruling Liberal Party to found his ow ...

of Sir Edward Patrick Morris and became minister of finance in 1909. When Morris resigned as party leader, Cashin succeeded him. The People's Party had formed a wartime national government which opposition member William F. Lloyd, a Liberal, had joined as minister of justice. Despite the fact that Cashin had succeeded Morris as leader of the dominant party, the governor appointed Lloyd to the position of prime minister. On 20 May 1919, Cashin, who was still minister of finance, rose and moved a

motion of no confidence A motion or vote of no confidence (or the inverse, a motion or vote of confidence) is a motion and corresponding vote thereon in a deliberative assembly (usually a legislative body) as to whether an officer (typically an executive) is deemed fi ...

in the government he was a member of. The motion passed and Cashin became prime minister. Cashin's government was short-lived, however; the

House of Assembly House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level. Historically, in British Crown colonies as the colony gained more internal responsible g ...

had not seen an election for six years due to the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, and a return to the polls was long overdue. An election was held in November 1919 which defeated Cashin's government and elected the opposition Liberals (now called the ''Liberal Reform Party''). In opposition Cashin changed the name of the People's Party to the Liberal-Labour-Progressive Party before retiring as party leader in 1923. He did not run for re-election in 1924. Cashin's son,

Peter John Cashin Major Peter John Cashin (March 8, 1890 – May 21, 1977) was a businessman, soldier and politician in Newfoundland. Early life Cashin, a son of Sir Michael Cashin, joined the Newfoundland Regiment during World War I and ultimately served in t ...

, was a prominent Newfoundland politician in his own right and his grandson, Richard Cashin was a federal politician in the 1960s and a trade union leader in the 1970s and 1980s. He was created a Knight Commander of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

in 1918. He died at his home in St. John's on 30 August 1926.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cashin, Michael Patrick 1864 births 1926 deaths Canadian Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Prime ministers of the Dominion of Newfoundland Newfoundland People's Party MHAs 19th-century members of the Newfoundland House of Assembly 20th-century members of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly