(Article from the Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador)
(1902-1967). Labour
leader; politician. Born Bell Island, son of Catherine (Malcolm) and David J. Jackman.
Educated Bell Island; St. Bonaventure's College. Married Annie Power. Jackman was
president of the miners' union on Bell Island for almost 30 years.
After working in the United States during the 1920s Nish Jackman returned to Bell Island to work in the mines. He became involved in the Wabana Mine Workers Union, but it remained largely ineffective until the outbreak of World War II. In 1941 he assumed active leadership of the miners' union, which continued to grow in membership throughout the war, affiliating with the Newfoundland Federation of Labour in 1944.
In 1946 Jackman was elected to the National Convention as delegate for Bell Island. He became the Convention's strongest advocate of closer relations with the United States, petitioning the British government to have union with the States placed on the referendum ballot and forming a ``Union with America'' party late in 1947. Jackman later supported Chesley Crosbie's Economic Union party in joining forces with the Responsible Government League for the referenda of 1948. It was also in 1948 that Jackman led the Bell Island miners into affiliation with the United Steelworkers of America, becoming president of local 4121.
After Confederation Jackman joined the Progressive Conservative Party and was elected MHA for Harbour Main-Bell Island in 1949. He was re-elected in 1951, but in 1956 was defeated and was also replaced as president of local 4121. In 1958 he was again elected president of the union local, but was defeated in his final attempt at political office, when he stood federally as an independent labour candidate. Jackman remained president of local 4121 until 1964, when he retired and moved to Montreal.
Sources:
M.F. Harrington (letter, Mar. 1990), Gail Weir (1989),