About Charles Fisher:
Charles Fisher was a Father of Confederation. A leading constitutional lawyer, Charles Fisher became a strong champion of responsible government in New Brunswick and later a supporter of Confederation. As Premier of New Brunswick, Charles Fisher introduced many changes, including extending voting rights and administrative, electoral and education reforms.
Confederation Conferences Attended:
- Quebec Conference 1864
- London Conference 1866
Birth and Death:
- Born August 15 or September 16, 1808 in Fredericton, New Brunswick
- Died December 8, 1889 in Fredericton, New Brunswick
Profession:
Constitutional lawyer
Political Affiliation:
Liberal
Riding (Electoral District):
York County
Political Career of Charles Fisher:
- Charles Fisher was first elected to the New Brunswick House of Assembly in 1837.
- Charles Fisher was a supporter of the New Brunswick reform movement. At that time, New Brunswick was governed by the lieutenant governor and executive council, none of whom had a seat in the legislative assembly. In 1842, Charles Fisher introduced a bill to require members of the executive council to hold office by election. He also pushed for other reforms, including a fixed property qualification for legislative councillors, a limit on the salaries of department heads and a provision to have fees placed in the public treasury rather than paid to office holders.
- Charles Fisher still collaborated with the government however, and his decision to participate in a coalition government under Edward Barron Chandler resulted in his defeat in 1850. He remained in the executive council until 1851 anyway.
- By that time, Charles Fisher had become a supporter of the party system and he was re-elected to the House of Assembly in 1854. He was soon called on to form a government with fellow Liberals. Fisher's government introduced the Reform Bill of 1855, which extended voting rights and established voting by ballot.
- In 1856 a law on prohibition could not be enforced and Charles Fisher was pushed from office. He was back in power within a year.
- In 1861, Charles Fisher was faced with a scandal over crown lands payments, and was again ousted from office.
- Charles Fisher was a New Brunswick representative at the 1864 Quebec Conference on Confederation, and supported Confederation.
- In 1865, New Brunswick voters rejected the pro-Confederation government.
- Charles Fisher won a by-election in 1866, was appointed Attorney General and gave impetus to the pro-Confederation forces. He then took part in the 1866 London Conference on Confederation.
- Charles Fisher was elected to the House of Commons in 1867.
- In 1868 Charles Fisher resigned from the House of Commons to sit on the Supreme Court of New Brunswick.
