Bemister, John

John Bemister (1815-1892), politician, was born in Carbonear, Newfoundland in 1815. He died at Harbour Grace on 23 December 1892.

Bemister entered politics in 1855 as a Conservative supporter of Sir Hugh Hoyles and represented the district of Bay de Verde in the first House of Assembly after the granting of Responsible Government. Bemister continued to represent this district up to 1870 when he retired from politics.

In 1861 he was appointed to the cabinet as Receiver General, the major financial portfolio. In 1865, he was appointed by the Prime Minister Frederick Carter to the position of Colonial Secretary. Confederation was a key election issue in 1869, and Bemister, who supported union with Canada, maintained the support of his district despite the controversial nature of the election. Religious tensions flared as the Catholic Church advised its faithful to vote against the issue, while the Protestant Churches took the opposite stand. In the end, the anti-Confederates were successful and Confederation became a dead issue.

Upon his retirement from politics in 1870, Bemister was appointed a sheriff of the Northern District, where he held the position until 1892.

Created - April 24, 2013

• anglais