George F. Grimes

George Frederick Arthur Grimes (June 29, 1877 – August 10, 1929) was a businessman and political figure in the Dominion of Newfoundland. He represented Port de Grave from 1913 to 1919, Fogo from 1923 to 1924, Twillingate from 1924 to 1928 and Lewisporte from 1928 to 1929 in the Newfoundland House of Assembly.

Honourable George F. Grimes MHA
Member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly for Lewisporte
In office October 29, 1928 (1928-10-29) – August 10, 1929 (1929-08-10)
Preceded by	District established
Succeeded by	Helena Squires
Member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly for Twillingate
In office June 2, 1924 (1924-06-02) – October 29, 1928 (1928-10-29) Serving with Kenneth M. Brown and Thomas Ashbourne
Preceded by	Arthur Barnes George Jones
Succeeded by	Kenneth M. Brown
Member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly for Fogo
In office May 3, 1923 (1923-05-03) – June 2, 1924 (1924-06-02)
Preceded by	Richard Hibbs
Succeeded by	Richard Hibbs
Member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly for Port de Grave
In office October 30, 1913 (1913-10-30) – November 3, 1919 (1919-11-03)
Preceded by	William Warren
Succeeded by	John Crosbie
Personal details
Born	George Frederick Arthur Grimes (1877-06-29)June 29, 1877 Channel, Newfoundland Colony
Died	August 10, 1929(1929-08-10) (aged 52) St. John's, Newfoundland
Political party	Fishermen's Protective Union
Spouse	Annie Clarke ​ (m. 1900)​
Occupation	Clerk

Early life and socialist activism

He was born in Channel, the son of William Grimes and Amelia White. The family moved to St. John's when Grimes was twelve after his father, a policeman, was posted there. He was employed as a clerk from 1890 until 1902, when he became a department manager for retail firm George Knowling Limited. In 1900, he married Annie Clarke. In 1906, Grimes helped form the Newfoundland Socialist Society; he also served as financial secretary for the St John's Trades and Labour Council in 1908. He is credited with exposing a future Newfoundland prime minister Joey Smallwood to socialism.

Fishermen's Protective Union and politics

A supporter of the Fishermen's Protective Union (FPU), Grimes became manager of the dry goods department in the Union Trading Company in 1912. In 1913, he was elected to the House of Assembly in Port de Grave as a representative of the FPU. In 1914, Grimes helped form the Newfoundland Socialist League. He was invited to become a member of the Executive Council in 1917 and served on Newfoundland's board of food control during World War I. Grimes was defeated by John Chalker Crosbie when he ran for reelection in 1919. He was elected again in 1923 as a member for Fogo, and he served in the cabinet as Minister of Marine and Fisheries from 1923 to 1924. Grimes died in office in St. John's at the age of 52 after suffering an "apoplectic attack".

References

• Cuff, Robert (2005). "George Frederick Arthur Grimes". Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online. Retrieved 2009-11-13.

External links

• Baker, Melvin (1984). "George Frederick Arthur Grimes". Memorial University. Retrieved 2009-11-13.