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Frederick Gordon Bradley was born in St. John’s on March 21, 1888, the son of Evangeline Trim and Norman N. Bradley. After completing his grade school education at the Methodist College in St. John’s in 1906, he spent three years as principal of the Methodist School in Bonavista.

In 1909, he returned to St. John’s where he read law with James M. Kent for two years, before enrolling in Dalhousie University, Halifax. He graduated with a bachelor of laws degree in 1914, and again returned to St. John’s. He practised with Sir Alfred Morine before establishing his own practice in 1922.

Bradley began a long and distinguished career in Newfoundland politics when he was elected to the House of Assembly as the member for Port de Grave in 1924. He was a supporter of Prime Minister Walter Monroe and was appointed to his cabinet as a minister without portfolio.

He soon broke with Monroe over the government’s tariff policy and was one of five members to cross the floor in May 1926. Only the defection of an opposition member to the government side kept Monroe in power.

Bradley joined the Liberal party and supported the comeback of former premier Richard Squires in the 1928 general election. He served in Squires’ cabinet, first without portfolio, but in 1929 he was appointed to the new post of solicitor general, with responsibility for law enforcement. Bradley remained loyal to Squires throughout the turmoil of 1932, which culminated in a riot at the Colonial Building in April and brought about the defeat of Squires in the general election later in the year.
 

Delegates of the National Convention of Newfoundland meet in Parliament. F. G. Bradley K.C. shakes hands with the Prime Minister of Canada,MacKenzie King.  Photo: The Star.

Members of the National Convention of Newfoundland and members of the Canadian Government in the House of Commons. Left to Right Seated: J. R. Smallwood, J.G. Bradley, K.C., Rt. Hon. Prime Minister W.L. MacKenzie King, Rt. Hon. L.S. St. Laurent, Rt. Hon. J.L. Ilsley. Standing: P.W. Crummey J.P., Rev. L.L. Burry B.A., T.G.W. Ashbourne J.P., B.A., Hon. V.C. Abbott, G.F. Higgins, J.J. McCann, C.H. Ballam, Hon. H.F.G. Bridges.  Photo: National Film Board.

One of only two Liberals elected in 1932, Bradley became leader of the Opposition. He and his fellow Liberal, Roland Starkes of Green Bay, were the only members who fought and voted against the end of Responsible Government and the institution of the Commission of Government in 1934.

In June 1935, Bradley was appointed chief magistrate, first at Bonavista and then at Grand Falls. He served in that capacity until 1939, when he resigned to devote more time to his own business, Bonavista Mutual Traders Ltd., which he had started in Bonavista in 1935.

Bradley was living there in 1945 when Britain announced that a National Convention would be called to discuss Newfoundland’s economic condition and make recommendations for future forms of government.

At first reluctant to return to the political arena, Bradley became a candidate in Bonavista South, where he had no trouble defeating his only rival, Edward Cook, 1,039 votes to 490. At the convention, he quickly became identified as a supporter of Confederation with Canada.

Bradley had believed for many years that Confederation provided the best option for Newfoundland; indeed, he had discussed this idea with Joseph R. Smallwood in the early 1930s.

At that time, Smallwood had been skeptical, but now he was a committed Confederate. It was Smallwood who led the fight for Confederation in the National Convention, but Bradley commanded much respect, converted many people to the cause, and had the confidence of the Canadians and the British who were involved in the process. He was an important and influential part of the campaign for Confederation.

Bradley was elected chair of the convention after the sudden death of its first chair, Justice Cyril Fox in late 1946. He also chaired the delegation to Ottawa in 1947 which negotiated a proposed terms of union, which were then debated at the convention.

When Confederation was rejected by the majority of members of the convention as a referendum option, Bradley went on radio to denounce the “29 dictators” who had voted against giving Newfoundlanders that choice and urged his listeners to send telegrams demanding that it be placed on the ballot.

He became president of the Newfoundland Confederate Association, and Smallwood became its campaign manager. Together they led the fight to have Confederation included on the referendum ballot, a decision eventually made by the British Government.

Confederation received a majority in the second referendum held on July 22, 1948 and Newfoundland became a province of Canada.

Bradley was a member of the delegation from Newfoundland which had negotiated the Terms of Union signed between Newfoundland and Canada on Dec. 11, 1948. He represented Newfoundland at the official ceremonies held in Ottawa on April 1, 1949 and was sworn into the cabinet of Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent as Secretary of State on that day. He was elected to the House of Commons as member for Bonavista-Twillingate on June 27. He served until 1953 when he accepted an appointment to the Senate.

Gordon Bradley married Ethel Louise Roper of Bonavista on June 22, 1923. They had two sons, John and Gordon.

He was a life-long member of the Freemasons and the Loyal Orange Lodge.

Bradley died at Bonavista on March 30, 1966.
 
 
 

Standing:Crummey, Burry.Sitting: Smallwood, Bradley, MacKenzie King.

 

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