Thomas Robert McInnes
Thomas Robert McInnes (Gaelic: TOMAS Raibeart Mac Aonghais; born November 5, 1840 in Lake Ainslie, Nova Scotia, † March 19, 1904 in Vancouver ) was a Canadian politician and physician. From 1878 to 1881 he was a member of the House from 1881 to 1897, he represented British Columbia in the Senate, after which he was until 1900 the sixth Lieutenant Governor of the province.
Biography
McInnes, the son of Scottish immigrants, studied medicine at Harvard University and at Rush Medical College in Chicago. After he had served during the Civil War in the Union Army, he returned to Canada and practiced in Dresden ( Ontario). In 1874 he moved to New Westminster in British Columbia, where he led a major medical practice. The following year he joined the Freemasons. In addition, he also worked as a forensic pathologist and director of a psychiatric hospital.
From 1876 McInnes was mayor of New Westminster. In March 1878 he won the by-election as an independent candidate for a seat in the House, which he successfully defended six months later in the general election in 1878. Canadian Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald appointed him in December 1881 to the Senator. 1890 brought a McInnes a legislative proposal that Gaelic (then the third most spoken language in the country) should be elevated to an official language. The Senate rejected it but from 42 votes to 7 to enter into it.
According to the recommendation of Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier sworn Governor General Lord Aberdeen McInnes on December 1, 1897 as Vice Governor. When he took office, the political situation in British Columbia was highly unstable, as there were no political parties and the government could not rely on solid majorities. McInnes aggravated the situation by repeatedly Government, he dismissed and appointed without Parliament's support.
In August 1898, he called John Herbert Turner to resign because he could not form a government because of a stalemate. McInnes was then Robert Beaven appoint, but was not even represented in the parliament, which is why his choice finally fell on Charles Augustus Zemun. Semlins reign was marked by numerous controversies. When he refused in January 1900, to be set by order of the Lieutenant Governor elections, he was immediately replaced by the infamous Joseph Martin. After only three and a half months followed Martin's overthrow by a vote of no confidence. The next Prime Minister, James Dunsmuir, complained to the Prime Minister of Canada on the improper conduct of the Lieutenant Governor. Once a withdrawal request was unheeded, Laurier McInnes dismissed on June 20, 1900 of the Office and replaced him with Henri- Gustave Joly de Lotbinière.
His son William Wallace Burns McInnes was also lower house deputy and Commissioner of the Yukon Territory.