John Delaney

Who was John Delaney?

John Delaney was an Irish-born civil servant, meteorologist and political figure in Newfoundland. He represented Placentia and St. Mary's in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1848 to 1852 and from 1855 to 1860 as a Liberal.

He married Elizabeth Troy, the sister of Father Edward Troy, before coming to St. John's in 1831. Delaney was door-keeper for the House of Assembly from 1835 to 1843. In 1852, he was named keeper of the House of Assembly and, in 1853, surveyor of roads. He played an active role in the passing of the Postal Act in 1851. Delaney was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1852. In 1860, he was named postmaster general; Delaney improved mail service in Newfoundland, introducing delivery to all parts of the island and door-to-door delivery in St. John's. From 1857 to 1864 and from 1871 to 1873, Delaney, with assistance from his sons, recorded weather observations at St. John's and submitted them to the Smithsonian Institution as part of a record of North American climate. He also established six weather stations manned by volunteers to record weather data to the Meteorological Office of Canada.