Herman William Quinton (28 October 1896, in Red Cliff, Newfoundland – 2 April 1952) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

politician. The son of Jacob Quinton and Sarah Benger, he was educated at Bishop Feild College, then worked as a school teacher from 1913 to 1914 and, afterwards, joined Sir

William Coaker Sir William Ford Coaker (October 19, 1871 – October 26, 1938) was a Newfoundland union leader and politician and founder of the Fisherman's Protective Union, the Fishermen's Union Trading Co., and the town of Port Union. A polarizing figure ...

in the Fisherman's Union Trading Company managing various branches before becoming dry goods superintendent. Quinton served with the

Newfoundland Regiment The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (R NFLD R) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of the 5th Canadian Division's 37 Canadian Brigade Group. Predecessor units trace their origins to 1795, and since 1949 Royal New ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and saw action in France and Belgium, he achieved the rank of lieutenant in 1918. He became secretary-treasurer of the Great War Veterans' Association of Newfoundland in 1924. Following the war, he went back to the Trading Company before joining A.E. Hickman & Co. as a travelling salesman. From 1928 to 1932, Quinton was manager for an export division of the Monroe Export Co. He married Ella Blackmore. Quinton was elected to the Newfoundland House of Assembly in 1928 representing Bonavista and was re-elected in 1932 defeating a young Joey Smallwood. He served as minister of public works in the Newfoundland government until responsible government was suspended in 1934 in favour of a

Commission of Government The Commission of Government was a non-elected body that governed the Dominion of Newfoundland from 1934 to 1949. Established following the collapse of Newfoundland's economy during the Great Depression, it was dissolved when the dominion beca ...

appointed by London. He was appointed magistrate for St. Barbe district. Following the death of Sir

John Charles Puddester Sir John Charles Puddester (4 October 1881 – 22 April 1947) was a businessman and political figure in Newfoundland. He represented Bay de Verde from 1924 to 1932 and Carbonear-Bay de Verde from 1932 to 1934. Puddester was then appointed ...

, he was appointed to the Commission of Government in 1947 to fill Puddester's portfolio as Commissioner of Public Health and Welfare. In this period the colony was considering whether or not to join Canada as a province and Quinton was one of only two Commissioners to support joining confederation. Following Newfoundland's entry into Canadian Confederation he was elected to the new House of Assembly representing

Burgeo-LaPoile Burgeo-La Poile is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2011, there are 7,527 eligible voters living within the district. The district was first created when Newfoundland joined con ...

for the

Liberal Party of Newfoundland The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The party is the provincial branch, and affiliate of the federal Liberal Party of Canada. It has served as the Government ...

and served in the new provincial government as Minister of Finance in Premier Joey Smallwood's first Cabinet. He retired from provincial politics in 1950 and was appointed to the Senate of Canada on 24 January 1951 on the recommendation of

Louis St-Laurent Louis Stephen St. Laurent (''Saint-Laurent'' or ''St-Laurent'' in French, baptized Louis-Étienne St-Laurent; February 1, 1882 – July 25, 1973) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the 12th prime minister of Canada from 19 ...

. He represented the senatorial division of Burgeo-Lapoile, Newfoundland as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada until his death in St. John's at the age of 55.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Quinton, Herman William 1896 births 1952 deaths Members of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly Canadian senators from Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party of Canada senators Bishop Feild School alumni Members of the Newfoundland Commission of Government Newfoundland military personnel of World War I Government ministers of the Dominion of Newfoundland Royal Newfoundland Regiment officers