James Spearman Winter
Encyclopedia
Sir James Spearman Winter, KCMG (1 January 1845 in Lamaline, Newfoundland – 6 October 1911) was a Newfoundland politician and Premier
. Winter served in the Conservative government of Sir William Whiteway
as Solicitor-General
from 1882 to 1885 when he resigned along with a number of other Protestants as a result of sectarian riots at Harbour Grace. Winter was grand master of the Orange Order
and intended to launch a new Protestant party but was sidelined when Sir Robert Thorburn
formed the Reform Party on a Protestant Rights agenda. Winter served as Attorney General
under Thorburn from 1885 to 1889 when the government was defeated and Winter lost his seat. Winter was appointed to the Supreme Court
in 1893 but resigned to lead the Tory Party (which had emerged out of the former Reform Party). Winter and his party won the 1897 election.
The Winter government faced criticism over the granting of railway contracts and was accused by the Liberal
opposition of selling out Newfoundland's interest to the Reid family as the minister of finance in Winter's government was also on Reid's payroll as his legal council while the contract was being negotiated. The scandal was a factor in the defeat of Winter's government in 1900.
As a jurist, Winter represented Newfoundland at the 1887-1888 fisheries conference in Washington and was senior counsel for the British government when Newfoundland was before the arbitration tribunal at the Hague
in 1910 over a fisheries dispute.
The Town of Winterton
was named after him.
His sons James
and Harry
both went on to serve as speakers for the Newfoundland assembly.
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
. Winter served in the Conservative government of Sir William Whiteway
William Whiteway
Sir William Vallance Whiteway, QC KCMG was a politician and three time Premier of Newfoundland. Born in England, Whiteway emigrated to the island in 1843 and entered the law in 1852. In 1859 he was elected to the House of Assembly as a member of the Conservative Party of Newfoundland and became a...
as Solicitor-General
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
from 1882 to 1885 when he resigned along with a number of other Protestants as a result of sectarian riots at Harbour Grace. Winter was grand master of the Orange Order
Orange Institution
The Orange Institution is a Protestant fraternal organisation based mainly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, though it has lodges throughout the Commonwealth and United States. The Institution was founded in 1796 near the village of Loughgall in County Armagh, Ireland...
and intended to launch a new Protestant party but was sidelined when Sir Robert Thorburn
Robert Thorburn
Sir Robert Thorburn was a Newfoundland merchant and politician who served as the colony's Premier from 1885 to 1889.Born in Scotland, Thorburn emigrated to Newfoundland in 1852 when he was sixteen...
formed the Reform Party on a Protestant Rights agenda. Winter served as Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
under Thorburn from 1885 to 1889 when the government was defeated and Winter lost his seat. Winter was appointed to the Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
in 1893 but resigned to lead the Tory Party (which had emerged out of the former Reform Party). Winter and his party won the 1897 election.
The Winter government faced criticism over the granting of railway contracts and was accused by the Liberal
Liberal parties in Newfoundland (pre-Confederation)
For the modern Liberal Party see Liberal Party of Newfoundland and LabradorSeveral earlier groupings functioned in the Dominion of Newfoundland under the name Liberal Party of Newfoundland from the granting of responsible government to the island in the 1850s until its suspension in 1934 when the...
opposition of selling out Newfoundland's interest to the Reid family as the minister of finance in Winter's government was also on Reid's payroll as his legal council while the contract was being negotiated. The scandal was a factor in the defeat of Winter's government in 1900.
As a jurist, Winter represented Newfoundland at the 1887-1888 fisheries conference in Washington and was senior counsel for the British government when Newfoundland was before the arbitration tribunal at the Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
in 1910 over a fisheries dispute.
The Town of Winterton
Winterton, Newfoundland and Labrador
Winterton is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It was originally named Sille Cove or Scilly Cove. In 1912 the town was named Winterton for Sir James Spearman Winter, former Prime Minister of Newfoundland....
was named after him.
His sons James
James A. Winter
James Alexander Winter was a lawyer and political figure in Newfoundland and Labrador. He represented Burin East from 1928 to 1932 and Burgeo and La Poile from 1932 to 1934 in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly as a member of the United Newfoundland Party.He was the son of James...
and Harry
Harry A. Winter
Harry Anderson Winter was a lawyer, journalist, judge and political figure in Newfoundland and Labrador. He represented Port de Grave from 1923 to 1924 and Harbour Grace from 1932 to 1934 in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly.He was born Henry Anderson Winter in St. John's, the son of...
both went on to serve as speakers for the Newfoundland assembly.