Article

Edgar Nelson Rhodes

Published Online February 18, 2008

Last Edited December 16, 2013

Edgar Nelson Rhodes, lawyer, politician, premier of NS (b at Amherst, NS 5 Jan 1877; d at Ottawa 15 Mar 1942). A distinguished politician, he began his career as a lawyer in Amherst in 1902.

Rhodes, Edgar Nelson

Edgar Nelson Rhodes, lawyer, politician, premier of NS (b at Amherst, NS 5 Jan 1877; d at Ottawa 15 Mar 1942). A distinguished politician, he began his career as a lawyer in Amherst in 1902. While serving as the federal Conservative member for Cumberland 1908-21, he became Speaker in 1917 and a member of the Privy Council in 1921. He then moved to provincial politics, sitting as the Liberal-Conservative member for Hants County and occupying the offices of premier and provincial secretary from 1925 to 1930. His tenure was brief but is remembered for decisive legislative action. Rhodes resigned to become federal minister of fisheries under R.B. BENNETT and the member for Richmond-W Cape Breton. He held the finance portfolio 1932-35 and was then named to the Senate.