Ernest Gear

Gear was born in St. John's as the son of businessman Henry Gear and Ellen Boyd (née McDougall).^[1] He was educated at the Methodist College in St. John's.

When the First World War broke out in August 1914, Gear was living in Canada. He enlisted as a Private in the 1st Canadian Division and was assigned to the 7th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery. Gear was gassed during the Battle of Hill 70 and wounded in the later stages of the Battle of Passchendaele.^[2] Upon returning home in St. John's, Gear took over as the managing director of his father's secondary business Gear and Company.^[1] In 1921, he married Irene Moore, daughter of Joseph Moore, who would eventually become Gear's colleague in the House of Assembly as the representative for White Bay.^[2]

Gear entered politics after James S. Ayre, the incumbent MHA for Port de Grave, resigned due to ill health. On March 21, 1933, he successfully contested the resulting by-election as a candidate for the United Newfoundland Party supporting Prime Minister Frederick C. Alderdice, defeating former MHA and seasoned campaigner Richard Cramm.^[1]

At the time of the by-election, the Dominion of Newfoundland was under the examination of the Amulree Commission, which would recommend the abolition of the legislature later that year. The House of Assembly unanimously ratified the conclusions of the commission, and it was formally abolished on February 16, 1934. Gear was the last person to be elected in Newfoundland until the Newfoundland National Convention was convened in 1946.^[3] The Dominion would eventually vote to join Canada in 1948.

Following the abolition of self-government, Gear returned to his business in St. John's. He died on December 16, 1955.