Timothy Anglin

Anglin, Timothy Warren

Timothy Warren Anglin, journalist, politician (b at Clonakilty, County Cork, Ire 31 Aug 1822; d at Toronto 3 May 1896). Shaped by his IRISH, Catholic, middle-class upbringing, he emigrated in 1849 following the Great Famine. In Saint John, NB, he established the Freeman newspaper, through which he represented, promoted and defended the interests of Irish Catholics for over 3 decades.

Elected to the NB Assembly in 1861, he waged a well-argued and initially successful campaign against CONFEDERATION and became a Cabinet member in the NB Anticonfederate government in 1865. Confederates attacked Anglin in a disreputable but effective campaign in which they accused him and his supporters of disloyalty. Nonetheless, Anglin acquiesced in the new political order after Confederation and from 1867 to 1882 was an elected MP in Ottawa and a prominent member of the Reform (Liberal) Party.

During Alexander Mackenzie's administration (1873-78), Anglin was Speaker of the House of Commons. His political interests ranged widely but especially involved religious/ethnic matters such as the New Brunswick schools question of the 1870s. Moving to Toronto in 1883 he continued his lifelong activities in journalism and politics, though in a less prominent fashion.

Anglin raised an accomplished family, including Frank, who became Chief Justice of the Canadian Supreme Court, and Margaret, the internationally acclaimed actress. As an articulate but feisty leader of Irish Catholics, Anglin provided an important mechanism for accommodating that group within Canadian society.