John Delaney (1811 – April 26, 1883) was an Irish-born civil servant,

meteorologist A meteorologist is a scientist who studies and works in the field of meteorology aiming to understand or predict Earth's atmospheric phenomena including the weather. Those who study meteorological phenomena are meteorologists in research, while t ...

and political figure in

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...

. He represented Placentia and St. Mary's in the

Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is the Unicameralism, unicameral deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It meets in the Confederation Build ...

from 1848 to 1852 and from 1855 to 1860 as a Liberal. He married Elizabeth Troy, the sister of Father Edward Troy, before coming to St. John's in 1831. Delaney was door-keeper for the House of Assembly from 1835 to 1843. In 1852, he was named keeper of the House of Assembly and, in 1853, surveyor of roads. He played an active role in the passing of the Postal Act in 1851. Delaney was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1852. In 1860, he was named postmaster general; Delaney improved mail service in Newfoundland, introducing delivery to all parts of the island and door-to-door delivery in St. John's. From 1857 to 1864 and from 1871 to 1873, Delaney, with assistance from his sons, recorded weather observations at St. John's and submitted them to the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

as part of a record of North American climate. He also established six weather stations manned by volunteers to record weather data to the Meteorological Office of Canada. In 1873, he was named a fellow of the

Royal Meteorological Society The Royal Meteorological Society is a long-established institution that promotes academic and public engagement in weather and climate science. Fellows of the Society must possess relevant qualifications, but Associate Fellows can be lay enthus ...

. Delaney died in St. John's in 1883.

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* Members of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly Postmasters General of Newfoundland Canadian meteorologists 1811 births 1883 deaths Newfoundland Colony people Irish emigrants to pre-Confederation Newfoundland {{Newfoundland-politician-stub