Joey Smallwood

Joey Smallwood
Smallwood in 1948
1st Premier of Newfoundland
In office
April 1, 1949 – January 18, 1972
MonarchsGeorge VI
Elizabeth II
Lieutenant GovernorAlbert Walsh
Leonard Outerbridge
Campbell Macpherson
Fabian O'Dea
Ewart Harnum
Preceded byFrederick C. Alderdice as Prime Minister of Newfoundland (1934)
Succeeded byFrank Moores
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Bonavista North
In office
May 27, 1949 – August 20, 1959
Preceded byNew District
Succeeded byEdward S. Spencer
In office
November 19, 1962 – September 8, 1966
Preceded byEdward S. Spencer
Succeeded byBeaton Abbott
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for St. John's West
In office
August 20, 1959 – November 19, 1962
Preceded byMalcolm Hollett
Succeeded byWilliam G. Adams
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Humber West
In office
September 8, 1966 – October 28, 1971
Preceded byCharles Ballam
Succeeded byFrank Moores
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Placentia East
In office
October 28, 1971 – March 24, 1972
Preceded byAlain Frecker
Succeeded byFintan Aylward
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Twillingate
In office
September 16, 1975 – June 18, 1977
Preceded byHerbert Gillett
Succeeded byBill Rowe
Personal details
Born
Joseph Roberts Smallwood

December 24, 1900
Gambo, Colony of Newfoundland
DiedDecember 17, 1991(1991-12-17) (aged 90)
St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
Political partyLiberal
SpouseClara Oates (1901–1996)
ChildrenWilliam R. Smallwood, Ramsey Smallwood, and Clara Smallwood Russell
Signature

Joseph Roberts Smallwood PC CC (December 24, 1900 – December 17, 1991) was a Newfoundlander and Canadian politician. He was the main force who brought the Dominion of Newfoundland into Canadian Confederation in 1949, becoming the first premier of Newfoundland, serving until 1972. As premier, he vigorously promoted economic development, championed the welfare state, and emphasized modernization of education and transportation. The results of his efforts to promote industrialization were mixed, with the most favourable results in hydroelectricity, iron mining and paper mills.[1]

Smallwood was charismatic and controversial. While many Canadians today remember Smallwood as the man who brought Newfoundland into Canada, the opinions held by Newfoundlanders and their diaspora remain sharply divided as to his legacy.[2]

  1. ^ "Provincial Government: The Smallwood Years, 1949-1972".
  2. ^ "Joey Smallwood | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 2019-10-10.