Gerald Merrithew

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Gerald Merrithew

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|CD|size=100%}}

| image =

| caption =

| office = Minister of Veterans Affairs

| term_start = 15 September 1988

| term_end = 4 January 1993

| primeminister = Brian Mulroney

| predecessor = George Hees

| successor = Kim Campbell

| office1 = Minister of State (Forestry and Mines)

| minister1 = Marcel Masse

| term_start1 = 30 June 1986

| term_end1 = 14 September 1988

| primeminister1 = Brian Mulroney

| predecessor1 = Himself {{small|(as Minister of State (Forestry))}}
Robert Layton {{small|(as Minister of State (Mines))}}

| successor1 = Gerry St. Germain

| office2 = Minister of State (Forestry)

| minister2 = John Wise

| term_start2 = 17 September 1984

| term_end2 = 29 June 1986

| primeminister2 = Brian Mulroney

| predecessor2 = Position established

| successor2 = Himself {{small|(as Minister of State (Forestry and Mines))}}

{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |New Brunswick Executive Council

|titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes

| office5 = Minister of Natural Resources
Government House Leader

| premier5 = Richard Hatfield

| term_start5 = 30 October 1982

| term_end5 = 3 August 1984

| predecessor5 = Edwin G. Allen

| successor5 = Malcolm MacLeod

| office6 = Minister of Commerce and Development

| premier6 = Richard Hatfield

| term_start6 = 20 December 1976

| term_end6 = 30 October 1982

| predecessor6 = Lawrence Garvie {{small|(Economic Growth)}}

| successor6 = Paul Dawson

| office7 = Minister of Education

| premier7 = Richard Hatfield

| term_start7 = 3 December 1974

| term_end7 = 20 December 1976

| predecessor7 = J. Lorne McGuigan

| successor7 = Charles Gallagher{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}

{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Parliamentary constituencies

|titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes

| parliament12 = Canadian

| riding12 = Saint John

| term_start12 = 4 September 1984

| term_end12 = 25 October 1993

| predecessor12 = Mike Landers

| successor12 = Elsie Wayne

| assembly13 = New Brunswick Legislative

| constituency_AM13 = East Saint John
{{small|(Saint John East; 1972–1974)}}

| term_start13 = 11 December 1972

| term_end13 = July 1984

| predecessor13 = Multi-member district

| successor13 = Peter Trites{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}

| birth_name = Gerald Stairs Merrithew

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes| 1931|09|23}}

| birth_place = Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2004|09|05|1931|09|23}}

| death_place =

| profession = Secondary school Principal

| party = Progressive Conservative

| residence = Springfield, New Brunswick

| spouse = Gloria McLean

}}

Gerald Stairs "Gerry" Merrithew {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|CD}} (23 September 1931 – 5 September 2004), born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, was an educator, provincial and federal politician, and statesman.

Merrithew graduated from the New Brunswick Teachers' College, then obtained his BA and B.Ed degrees from the University of New Brunswick.

With a lifelong interest in the Canadian Forces, he became an officer cadet and rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. As a high school principal, he was active not only in the educational field, but the military, recreational fields, as well as cultural affairs that led to his entering politics.