Career
He represented Charlottetown in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1873 to 1876 and Queen"s County in the Canadian House of Commons from 1882 to 1883 and from 1884 to 1887 as a Liberal-Conservative member. He was the first native-born physician on Prince Edward Island. He was born in Charlottetown, the son of Reverend J.C. Jenkins and Penelope Desbrisay who was the daughter of Theophilus Desbrisay.
He was educated at the Central Academy in Charlottetown and at Street Bartholomew"s Hospital in London, England.
Jenkins served as a surgeon in the Ottoman Army during the Crimean War. His election to the House of Commons in 1882 was declared invalid after an appeal.
Jenkins was elected to the same seat in an 1884 by-election after Frederick de Street Croix Brecken resigned his seat to accept an appointment as postmaster for Charlottetown. He was elected to the provincial assembly in 5th Queens in an 1891 by-election held after Patrick Blake ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the House of Commons and served until 1893.
Jenkins also raised horses and owned a ranch in Western Canada.
He died in Charlottetown at the age of 70.