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Edward Whelan was born in 1824 in Ballina Ireland, where he received a basic education before immigrating to Halifax. He then entered St Mary's school and then in the following year became an apprentice in the printing office. Here his employer encouraged Edward to follow his example and continue his Education through reading. He continued to work at the printing office until 1842. He then became editor of Register, a newspaper that appealed to Irish Roman Catholics. He attempted to start his own paper with no success, so he moved to PEI where he found a twice-weekly news paper. ("Canadian Encyclopedia")

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Edward Whelan became known as something of a romantic. He had four children, with three of them, one son and two daughters, predeceasing him. The only one to survive him was a son who perished in a drowning accident in 1875, at the age of 20, he had a good looking career in journalism. His first wife who was a widow, Ms Mary Weymouth, died 5 months after their marriage. ("Canadian Biography")

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1.“Edward Whelan.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 16 Jan. 2008, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edward-whelan.

2.“Biography – Whelan, Edward – Volume IX (1861-1870) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography.” Home – Dictionary of Canadian Biography, www.biographi.ca/en/bio/whelan_edward_9E.html#:~:text=1845%20following%20the%20birth%20of,a%20promising%20career%20in%20journalism. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

3. “Whelan, Edward National Historic Person.” Parcs Canada, www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=1342. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

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 Political Career and involvement with confederation

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 Political Career and involvement with confederation

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Through the 1850's, Edward had played a role in defending the reforms the liberals introduced. His partnership with a man named George Cole became legendary on the island he was on. Cole was a professional at debating while Edward handled all the journalism, which included free schooling and reforming the land system. In 1867 Whelan had experienced electoral defeat for the first time, he accepted the offer of Queens printer and therefore was put in another type of election and lost. ("Canadian Encyclopedia")

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Edward Whelan never recovered from his loss and his health gradually declined, on the 10th of Dec he died of dropsy which was a type of swelling and is usually related to heart failure. Edward would be known as one of if not the greatest journalist PEI has ever known. Coming from being a teenager and starting his own paper added to this feat. He was involved in all issues from government, confederation, land and other things. However he passed before he could see his cause succeed.