Tasker Cook

Tasker Cook
Mayor of St. John's, Newfoundland
In office
December 15, 1921 – December 9, 1929
Preceded byWilliam Gilbert Gosling
Succeeded byCharles Howlett
Personal details
Born
Tasker Keech Cook

(1867-06-30)June 30, 1867
St. John's, Newfoundland
DiedSeptember 25, 1937(1937-09-25) (aged 70)
St. John's, Newfoundland

Sir Tasker Keech Cook (June 30, 1867 – September 25, 1937)[1] was a politician in the dominion of Newfoundland, who served as mayor of St. John's from 1921 to 1929.[2]

First elected mayor in 1921, he won a second term by acclamation in 1925.[2] His term in office was marked by various public works projects and by the creation of the city's first planning committee;[2] however, many infrastructure projects in the city remained hamstrung by his reluctance to introduce new municipal taxes.[2]

He was appointed to the Legislative Council of Newfoundland by Prime Minister Richard Squires in 1928, and was a chair of the Newfoundland Railway Commission. He was made a Knight Bachelor by George V in the 1931 New Year Honours, and invested by Edward VIII.[3]

He died in St. John's on September 25, 1937.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Passing of Sir Tasker Cook". Newfoundland Quarterly, October 1937, Vol. 37(2), p. 16.
  2. ^ a b c d Melvin Baker, "St. John's Municipal Chairmen and Mayors, 1888-1988. Newfoundland Quarterly, Vol. LXXX1V, No. 1, Summer 1988, pp. 5-11.
  3. ^ "Hon. Sir Tasker K. Cook, K.B., M.L.C., K.D., K.S.O., C.L.D.E.H. [made Knight Bachelor]". Newfoundland Magazine & Commercial Advertiser, January 1931, Vol. 6(1), p. 5.
  4. ^ "Sir Tasker Cook, 70, Dies". The Gazette. St. John's, Newfoundland. September 27, 1937. p. 9. Retrieved July 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.