J. Edward Wyatt

WYATT, JAMES EDWARD "NED," lawyer: b. 24 September 1860 in Charlottetown, son of William and Randal Wyatt; m. Cecilia Lefurgey of Summerside and they had three children, Dorothy Randal, Wanda Lefurgey, and Ivan Edward; Anglican and Presbyterian; d. 4 May 1932. Wyatt, a Conservative, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1908 for 5th Prince. He was re-elected in the general election of 1912. Fie was defeated in the general elections of 1904 and 1915, and in a by-election held 30 August 1922. In March of 1912, Wyatt was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Wyatt was defeated in the federal election of 1926 in the Prince County riding. "Ned" Wyatt, though born in Charlottetown, lived much of his life in Summerside. He was educated at Prince of Wales College. Following a five year period in which he studied law with E. J. Hodgson, Wyatt was admitted to the Prince Edward Island Bar on 2 November 1883. In the Charlottetown Examiner, he was commended for a good performance on his Bar admission exam. He then entered legal practice with J. E. Lefurgey in Summerside. J. E. Lefurgey was his wife's brother and the son of John Lefurgey*, a successful shipbuilder and merchant, and a Conservative Member of the House of Assembly. Much of the legal work of the firm involved the management of the affairs of John Lefurgey. Wyatt had legal offices in both Summerside and Charlottetown. Wyatt's daughter, Wanda, was the first female law' student in the province. James Wyatt was a central figure in enabling this possibility for his daughter, as he supported a bill that allowed women the opportunity for the first time. Wyatt's firm also sponsored her application for admission to law school, and provided an office in which to article. Wanda Wyatt became a heritage advocate and philanthropist. Ned Wyatt died 4 May 1932. Cecilia Wyatt, the daughter of John Lefurgey and Dorothea Read of Summerside, was born in 1864. She died in 1937. Ivan Edward Wyatt, James and Cecilia's son, died in 1898 at the age of two years.