The story of Frederick C. Alderdice is a sad one. A man who was born in Belfast, Ireland and moved to Newfoundland in 1886, he rose to become the Prime Minister of the dominion in 1928. He was a prominent St. John's businessman and leader of the Liberal-Conservative Progressive Party. Despite his best efforts, his government was unable to deal with the economic crisis that had engulfed Newfoundland and he was forced to accept the recommendations of the Imperial Royal Commission to suspend responsible government and institute an appointed Commission of Government to rule the dominion. While he was appointed to the Commission of Government and served as Commissioner for Home Affairs and Education, it was a bittersweet victory for Alderdice. He had gone from being the Prime Minister of a self-governing dominion to being a member of a Commission of Government, a position he was not elected to and one that had taken away the political autonomy of the people of Newfoundland. Alderdice's story is a reminder of the fragility of democracy and the power of economic crisis to undermine it. It is a reminder that, even in the face of overwhelming odds, a leader can still strive to do the right thing and stand up for the people he serves. It is a reminder of the courage and determination of a man who, in the face of adversity, chose to do what was best for his people, even if it meant sacrificing his own political career.