John Yeo

YEO, HONOURABLE JOHN, farmer and merchant; b. 29 June 1837 in Port Hill, son of Honourable James Yeo and his second wife, Damaris Sargent, of Kilkhampton, England; Anglican; d. 14 December 1924 in Port Hill. Yeo, both a Liberal and a Conservative, was first elected to the House of Assembly in the 1858 general election for 2nd Prince as a Conservative. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1859, 1863, 1867, 1870, 1872, 1873, 1876. 1879, 1882, 1886, and 1890. Yeo was appointed to Executive Council in 1870. He was elected Speaker in 1871, a position he held when the Island entered Confederation in1873. In that year, Yeo was appointed to Executive Council, and was reappointed in 1876 as a member of the Free Schools Party coalition led by L. H. Davies' . He served on Executive Council until 1879. Yeo remained with the Liberals and was for many years Leader of the Opposition. Upon the retirement of Yeo's brother James* from the House of Commons in 1891, Yeo resigned his seat in the Assembly and was elected to the House of Commons for Prince County. When the riding was divided, in 1896, he was re-elected for East Prince. In 1898 Yeo was appointed to the Senate and served there until his death on 14 December 1924. Yeo's family was involved in politics. His father was a Conservative Member of the House of Assembly, as well as a member of both the Executive and Legislative Councils. Yeo's brother James*, a Liberal, was returned to the House of Commons from 1876 until his retirement. Yeo was the fifth child of his father's second marriage. He was educated in England, but returned to the Island while a young man. Upon his return, Yeo was associated with his father in numerous enterprises. After the death of his father in 1868, Yeo assumed management of his various business and agricultural interests. The Yeo firm at Port Hill was among the largest mercantile establishments in the province. Yeo also continued his father's shipbuilding business and was a capable farmer. He was known as one of the most successful stock raisers in the province. Apart from political and business involvements, Yeo was active in his community. He served as the first Grand Master of the Free Masons in Prince Edward Island, a position he held from 1875 until 1889.