James Luke Prendergast, Date of Birth, Date of Death
TweetJames Luke Prendergast
Canadian politician
Date of Birth: 
About James Luke Prendergast
- James Luke Prendergast (April 7, 1800 – May 13, 1895) was a merchant and political figure in Newfoundland.
- He represented Conception Bay from 1842 to 1852 and Harbour Grace from 1855 to 1859 and from 1860 to 1861 in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly as a Liberal. He was born in Harbour Grace, the son of James Prendergast, and established himself in business there.
- Prendergast married Margaret Bransfield in 1825.
- In an 1840 by-election, he ran for a seat in the Newfoundland assembly as an independent Liberal against Edmund Hanrahan.
- Following widespread violence during the campaign, the governor Henry Prescott set aside the results of the election.
- Prendergast was first elected when he ran as a Liberal in 1842.
- He was defeated when he ran again as an independent Liberal in 1852.
- He served as acting superintendent of fisheries after he was elected again in 1855 as a Liberal.
- His election in 1859 was overturned but Prendergast was elected in the 1860 by-election that followed.
- The polls were not opened in Harbour Grace for the general election in 1861 because of the threat of violence and Prendergast was defeated in the by-election held later that year.
- He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the assembly in 1869 as an anti-Confederate.
- Prendergast later served as sheriff of Harbour Grace and as a justice of the peace.
- He died in Harbour Grace at the age of 95.
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