Lemuel John Tweedie

Infobox_President
name = Lemuel John Tweedie


imagesize = 150px
caption = Lemuel John Tweedie
order = 9th Premier of New Brunswick
term_start = 1900
term_end = 1907
predecessor = Henry R. Emmerson
successor = William Pugsley
birth_date = birth date|1849|11|30|mf=y
birth_place = Chatham, New Brunswick
Canada flagicon|Canada
death_date = death date and age |1917|7|15|1849|11|30
death_place = Chatham, New Brunswick
Canada flagicon|Canada
party = Liberal
spouse = Agnes Loudoun
religion = Presbyterian|

Lemuel John Tweedie (November 30, 1849 – July 15, 1917) was a politician from Chatham, New Brunswick.

His law partner in Chatham for a time was Richard Bedford Bennett, later Prime Minister of Canada and Max Aitken for a time was his office boy.

A former supporter of the federal Conservatives he joined the Liberal Cabinet of New Brunswick Premier Andrew George Blair serving as Surveyor-General and Provincial Secretary in successive Liberal governments. Tweedie became Premier of the province in 1900 and led the party to a large majority government in the 1903 election.

Tweedie's government allowed women to be admitted to the practice of law in 1906 and supported the development of hydroelectric power at Grand Falls. He also created a Workers' Compensation board and successfully lobbied the federal government to increase subsidies to the province including payment for railway expansion. He led the government for seven years before becoming lieutenant-governor, holding that position until 1912.

A supporter of educational institutions, Tweedie personally donated academic prizes for students. He served on the Board of Governors of the University of New Brunswick, Mount Allison University, plus the Halifax School for the Blind.

Lemuel Tweedie died in 1917 at age sixty-seven in his home town of Chatham and was buried in the Riverside Cemetery. His son Frederick served as a member of the provincial assembly.

References

* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=7750 Biography at the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]
* [http://www.gnb.ca/legis/leglibbib/Special_Projects/premiers-bios/english/LJTweedie.pdf Biography, Government of New Brunswick]