The legacy of Gordon Sidney Harrington 1909-1925

Abstract

Gordon Sidney Harrington served as Premier of Nova Scotia from 1930 to 1933. However, this investigation ends with his election to the Nova Scotia Legislature in 1925 and covers important but little known aspects of his career. From being mayor of Glace Bay, he raised, trained and led “B” Company of the 185th Cape Breton Highlanders overseas in the First World War. He served at the Front, then became Deputy Minister Canadian Forces Overseas. He was instrumental in Canada’s gaining control of its forces, he negotiated the financial settlement with the British War Office and oversaw the repatriation of Canadians after the war. Back in Cape Breton he defended known communists. Taking on the British Empire Steel Corporation, which consistently abused its employees, led him into politics. Within his first year as Minister of Public Works and Mines he quelled years of tumult in the coal fields of Nova Scotia.