Harris Mundon Mosdell was a journalist, physician and political figure in Newfoundland

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...

. He represented Fortune Bay

Fortune Bay

Fortune Bay is a fairly large natural bay located on the south coast of the island of Newfoundland, Canada. The Bay is bounded by Point Crewe on the Burin Peninsula and Pass Island at the entrance to Hermitage Bay to the northwest for a distance of 56 kilometers...

 and then Fortune Bay and Hermitage in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly

Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly

The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...

 from 1926 to 1934 as a Liberal and then Independent member.

He was born in Bay Roberts

Bay Roberts, Newfoundland and Labrador

Bay Roberts is located on the north shore of Conception Bay on the Bay de Verde Peninsula in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...

, the son of Thomas Mosdell, and was educated there and at the University of Toronto

University of Toronto

The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...

. Mosdell taught school for several years before purchasing a printing plant and establishing a newspaper, the Outlook, in Bay Roberts. He moved Toronto

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

 in 1909 where he became a reporter and also studied medicine. After receiving a Bachelor of Medicine, he returned to Newfoundland in 1911 and began the practice of medicine at Woody Point. He became the editor of the Fishermen's Protective Union

Fishermen's Protective Union

The Fishermen's Protective Union was a workers' organization and political party in the Dominion of Newfoundland...

 newspapers, the Fisherman's Advocate and the Daily Mail in 1914, later becoming editor of the Liberal Daily Star. Mosdell was named to the Legislative Council of Newfoundland

Legislative Council of Newfoundland

The Legislative Council of Newfoundland was established in 1854 when the British Government granted a new constitution to Newfoundland establishing an Executive Council of not more than seven members of the majority party and a Legislative Council of not more than 15 members upon nomination of the...

 in 1922. He resigned from the council in 1926 to run in a by-election for a seat in the Newfoundland assembly. He served in the Executive Council as a minister without portfolio

Minister without Portfolio

A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...

. In 1930, he received an M.D.

Doctor of Medicine

Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...

. In 1934, he was named secretary in the Department of Public Health and Welfare. Mosdell married Bessie Mundy.