Article

Andrew Rainsford Wetmore

Published Online February 14, 2008

Last Edited December 16, 2013

Andrew Rainsford Wetmore, jurist, politician, premier of NB 1867-70 (b at Fredericton 16 Aug 1820; d there 7 Mar 1892). Born into a distinguished Loyalist family, Wetmore's father, George Ludlow Wetmore, was the last New Brunswicker killed in a formal duel (20 Oct 1821).

Wetmore, Andrew Rainsford

Andrew Rainsford Wetmore, jurist, politician, premier of NB 1867-70 (b at Fredericton 16 Aug 1820; d there 7 Mar 1892). Born into a distinguished Loyalist family, Wetmore's father, George Ludlow Wetmore, was the last New Brunswicker killed in a formal duel (20 Oct 1821). Andrew Wetmore went into law. He joined the anti-Confederationists for the 1865 electoral victory, expecting the attorney generalship. Refused that office, he moved to the Confederationists to be "certain to have been right at least once," even though he was considered a "political weathercock" for his move. The 1867 mass exodus of NB politicians to Ottawa propelled Wetmore to the premiership and the attorney general's office. He was also promised the Supreme Court. Under him provincial affairs were chaotic, and his elevation to the NB Supreme Court (1870) was the occasion for political realignment under firmer leadership.