George Hathaway was born in Musquash, New Brunswick to Calvin and Sarah Hathaway on Aug. 4, 1813.
Hathaway was a believer in responsible government and supported the reform movement to bring that type of government to New Brunswick.
In 1850, he ran to sit as an MLA in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick. During his first campaign, people quickly discovered that Hathaway enjoyed having a drink and he was often seen drinking brandy while out campaigning.
After he won his riding, he sat as an MLA until 1856 when he lost his seat.
Hathaway returned to the Legislature in 1861 and became the Chief Commissioner of Public Works.
In 1865, Hathaway opposed the efforts of New Brunswick to join Canadian confederation.
The Hamilton Spectator wrote,
“Mr. Hathaway denied emphatically the report of change of sentiments in the lower Provinces for Confederation. Confederation, he said, will never be accepted by New Brunswick.”
Not wanting to be part of the Confederation movement, he resigned from the Legislature that year.
The Spectator wrote,
“Mr. Hathaway has retired from the New Brunswick government on the ground that he is hostile to the Confederation scheme.”
He soon returned to the Legislature after the 1865 election as an Anti-Confederate candidate.
Asked by the Lt. Governor Arthur Gordons to form a new government, Hathaway rejected it and instead became the Chief Commissioner of Public Works.
Hathaway did not run in 1866 but returned once again to the Legislature in 1870 after New Brunswick became a province.
After he helped depose the government of George King, Hathaway became the leader of the Conservative Party and the third premier of the province on Feb. 21, 1871.
The Spectator wrote,
“The New Brunswick government has resigned. Mr. Hathaway has undertaken the task of forming a new one.”
The major accomplishment of his time as premier was the passing of the Common Schools Act, although as we discussed in the previous episode it was more the work of George King than Hathaway.
On June 25, 1872, as Hathaway jumped from a moving train, he seriously injured his hand and contracted blood poisoning.
The Ottawa Daily Citizen wrote,
“Mr. Hathaway is dangerously ill from injuries received in attempting to jump from a train at Fredericton Junction.”
He died on July 5, 1872 at the age of only 58 in Fredericton.
The Daily Citizen wrote,
“A private telegram today announces the death of G.L. Hathaway, premier of New Brunswick, from the effects of injuries lately received while jumping from a railway train in motion. It is expected that this unfortunate event will be the cause of reconstruction of the New Brunswick Administration.
His time was short and very forgettable in the list of New Brunswick premiers.
