William R. Smallwood

William Smallwood
MHA for Green Bay
In office
1956–1971
Preceded byBaxter Mogan
Succeeded byHarold Starkes
Personal details
Born(1928-09-30)September 30, 1928
Corner Brook, Dominion of Newfoundland
DiedOctober 30, 2001(2001-10-30) (aged 73)
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Political partyLiberal
RelationsJoey Smallwood (father)
OccupationLawyer

William Richard Smallwood (September 30, 1928 – October 30, 2001) was a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Green Bay in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1956 to 1971. He was a member of the Liberal Party.[1] He was born in Corner Brook in 1928, the son of Newfoundland Premier and Canadian Father of Confederation, Joey Smallwood, and his wife Clara Oates. He was their second child and had an older brother, Ramsay and younger sister, Clara. He attended the Curtis Academy, Memorial University, and Dalhousie University, earning an LL.B. degree. He was a lawyer in St. John's.[2][3]

On May 27, 1971, Smallwood assaulted William Marshall on the floor of the House, and was issued a five-day suspension.[4] John Crosbie was given a three-day suspension after accusing Joey Smallwood of approving of William's behavior, while Marshall and H.R.V. Earle were suspended for criticising Speaker Clarke.[5][6]

In 1983, he suffered stab wounds in an altercation with his son, who was charged with attempted murder.[7] The charges were withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.[8] He died in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001.[9]

  1. ^ Encyclopedia of Newfoundland and Labrador
  2. ^ "Guide parlementaire canadien". google.ca. 1971. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Guide parlementaire canadien". google.ca. 1971. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  4. ^ Maher, David (December 15, 2019). "Lies, intrigue and assault: a brief history of suspensions from the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly". The Telegram. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  5. ^ House of Assembly Verbatim Report, Monday, May 31, 1971 (PDF). Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 1971. pp. 5103–5104. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  6. ^ "3 Nfld. Opposition Members Expelled". The Ottawa Journal. May 31, 1971. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  7. ^ Smallwood's grandson fit to face trial, court rules The Globe and Mail [Toronto, Ont] October 22, 1983: P.15.
  8. ^ Smallwood's grandson cleared of attempting to murder his dad, Toronto Star (1971-2009); Toronto, Ontario [Toronto, Ontario]24 Feb 1984: A8.
  9. ^ "Obituaries", St. John's Telegram, November 2, 2001, pg. A8