Volume III - ElectricCanadian.com

JVTKN OK 293JOHN BEAUFORTSOMERSET, busi-of theness managerManitoba Free Press, Winnipeg,Manitoba, was bornMarch and, 1843, near Dublin,Ireland. He receivedhis education in Ireland,and came to Canada in 1861,and taught school in Ontario,until 1871, when hewas appointed an inspectorof schools, under the lawpassed that year.He filledthis position for the Countyof Lincoln, until 1882, whenhe accepted the position ofinspector for the city ofWinnipeg, Manitoba, whichat that time employed twelveteachers. From that timeuntil October 1883, he filledthis position, his ability asan organizer being testedby the increase of teachersto over 50, the building ofthe necessary school rooms,and the grading of pupilsfrom all parts of the worldinto proper classes. In1883, he was appointed Sup- !__erintendent of Education forthe Protestant Schools of Manitoba,which numbered at that date less than200, the Rev. W. C. Pinkham, nowBishop of Saskatchewan, being hispredecessor. From this date until December3rd, 1889, ne occupied this position,during which, assisted by aBoard of Education, he organized over400 additional schools, introduced asystem of Normal school training, theequal of that in any of the older provinces,organized a thorough system ofinspection, and examination of teachers,and provided a code of regulation whichremained practically the same after theabolition of the distinction of Protestantand Catholic schools, and the organizationof the new system of uniform provincialschools. From the date of theabolition of the office then held by him,he ceased to be actively connected witheducational matters, and in 1891 becamesecretary-treasurer of the Manitoba FreePress, the leading newspaper of theNorth-West, which position he stillholds. In religion, Mr. Somerset is aa member of the board ofMethodist,Wesley College, of which institution hewas one of the original promoters. In1867, he was married to Miss E. S.Darche, by whom he has two sons andtwo daughters.