Stephen Rice Jenkins

JENKINS, M.D., STEPHEN RICE, physician and surgeon; b. 12 November 1858 in Charlottetown, son of John Theophilus Jenkins* and Jessie Esther Carson Rice; m. 7 October 1886 Ellen Josephine Sweeney, and they had nine children, John Stephen, Mary E., Frances, Harry, Helen, Nora I., Margaret, Hilda, and Joseph; Roman Catholic; d. 15 September 1929 in Charlottetown. Jenkins, a Conservative, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1912 for 5th Queens. He was re-elected in the general election of 1915. He was defeated in the general election of 1900. Jenkins was appointed as a Minister without Portfolio in 1915. He also served as Chief Aide-de-Camp to three Lieutenant-Governors. Jenkins' brother Louis Leoline* and their father John Theophilus* were Members of the Legislative Assembly. Jenkins was educated at St. Peter's School in Charlottetown and at King's College in Windsor, Nova Scotia. He received his preliminary medical training with his father, who was a successful doctor. Later Jenkins attended the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1884. After that he served as the house surgeon at Brockley Hospital in Philadelphia. Jenkins returned to the province in 1885 and established a practice, first in Cardigan and then in Charlottetown. During the 1885 smallpox epidemic, he was in charge of the Emergency Hospital, where he rendered valuable service in fighting the disease. In February 1886, Jenkins, a surgeon, was commissioned to the 4'1' Prince Edward Island Regiment of Artillery, and was eventually promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He also served as registrar of the Medical Council of Prince Edward Island and as a president of the Maritime Medical Association and the Canadian Medical Association.SSHe was a member of the first Dominion Medical Council and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Jenkins served on numerous medical committees such as Cancer Research and Social Hygiene. He was the secretary of the Prince Edward Island Branch of the Red Cross and president of the Anti-tuberculosis Association. He founded the Free Dispensary for the Poor in Charlottetown. Stephen Jenkins died 15 September 1929 at his home. Ellen Jenkins, the daughter of Patrick and Joanna Sweeney of Ireland, was born 3 September 1862 and died 23 September 1949.