Edward Patrick Morris, 1st Baron Morris

Morris, Edward Patrick, 1st Baron Morris

Edward Patrick Morris, 1st Baron Morris, politician, prime minister of Newfoundland (b at St John's 8 May 1859; d at London, Eng 24 Oct 1935). Morris was elected to the Newfoundland Assembly in 1885. In 1889 he joined Sir William WHITEWAY's Liberal Cabinet. He was especially important to the party as a senior Roman Catholic politician with immense influence in St John's. Morris's relationship with Robert BOND, who succeeded to the Liberal leadership in 1897, was uneasy. They split in 1898 but reunited in 1900 to take power from the Tories. Morris became minister of justice in Bond's Cabinet but, urged on by Bond's opponents, resigned in 1907 and in 1908 formed the People's Party, which won the 1909 election. Morris had no clear policy other than to keep himself in power, and his government was tainted by accusations of conflict of interest. His popularity waned during WWI as the Opposition capitalized on discontent caused by profiteering and mismanagement. Having formed the first National Government in 1917, Morris retired early 1918 to England, where he was raised to the peerage.