George Coles (politician)

George Coles (September 20, 1810 – August 21, 1875) was a Canadian politician and one of the Fathers of Confederation. He was a prominent figure in Prince Edward Island politics during the 19th century, serving multiple terms as Premier.

Born in Prince Edward Island, Coles was a successful merchant and distiller before entering politics. He was a strong advocate for responsible government and played a key role in achieving it for the colony in 1851. He believed in representing the interests of farmers and small landowners, and championed their rights against those of larger landowners.

Coles served as Premier of Prince Edward Island on several occasions, including 1851-1854, 1854-1859, and 1867-1868. He led the Liberal party and implemented important reforms, including education improvements and land reforms, though the land question remained largely unresolved during his time in office.

While initially hesitant about Confederation, Coles attended the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences in 1864. He ultimately opposed Prince Edward Island joining Confederation on the terms offered at the time, believing they were not favorable enough to the island's interests. Prince Edward Island eventually joined Confederation in 1873, two years before Coles' death. He is remembered as a significant figure in Prince Edward Island's political history and a Father of Confederation despite his initial opposition to the union.