Timothy Anglin

Who was Timothy Anglin?

Timothy Warren Anglin was a Canadian politician and Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons.

Born in Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland, Anglin emigrated at the age of 26 as part of the exodus caused by the Irish Potato Famine. Following a sectarian riot in New Brunswick between members of the Orange Order and Catholics, Anglin appealed for moderation and unity. This led him to take up the editorship of a new newspaper, The Freeman in 1849, which made him an influential voice in the colony. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in 1861, and became an opponent of Canadian Confederation and of the government of Samuel Leonard Tilley which he helped defeat in 1865. Tilley returned to power the next year, however, with the defeat of the Anti-Confederation Party in the election. Anglin lost his own seat.

New Brunswick entered Confederation as a province in 1867 and Anglin won a seat in the new Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal Member of Parliament for the riding of Gloucester in the country's first general election.