John Anderson (Newfoundland politician)
Encyclopedia
John Anderson was a businessman, politician, and member of St. John's
city council and member of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland
, Canada. He was instrumental in the passing of the Daylight Saving Act of 1917
.
Anderson was born in Saltcoats
, Scotland
and educated at Saltcoats Academy. He came to Newfoundland in 1875 and joined the firm of James Baird in St. John's. He served on the St. John's City Council from 1900 to 1904 and was elected to the House of Assembly
around the same time. Anderson became fascinated with the idea of daylight saving time
(DST) after meeting William Willett
who had been promoting it in England. His advocacy for the bill to enact DST earned the sobriquet
Anderson's Time. Newfoundland became the first jurisdiction in North America to adopt DST.
Anderson was the father of Captain Hugh Abercrombie Anderson
, a Newfoundland playwright
and member of Order of the British Empire
who wrote the musical Auld Lang Syne
.
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
city council and member of the House of Assembly of 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...
, Canada. He was instrumental in the passing of the Daylight Saving Act of 1917
Daylight Saving Act of 1917
The Daylight Saving Act of 1917 was an enacted by the Dominion of Newfoundland to adopt daylight saving time , thus making it one of the first jurisdictions in North America to do so, only a year after the United Kingdom on May 21, 1916...
.
Anderson was born in Saltcoats
Saltcoats
- References :*McSherry, R. & M. . Old Saltcoats, Stenlake Publishing, Ochiltree. ISBN 1-872074-57-X.*Stansfield, G. . Ayrshire & Renfrewshire's Lost Railways, Stenlake Publishing, Catrine. ISBN 1-84033-077-5.-External links:***...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and educated at Saltcoats Academy. He came to Newfoundland in 1875 and joined the firm of James Baird in St. John's. He served on the St. John's City Council from 1900 to 1904 and was elected to the 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...
around the same time. Anderson became fascinated with the idea of daylight saving time
Daylight saving time
Daylight saving time —also summer time in several countries including in British English and European official terminology —is the practice of temporarily advancing clocks during the summertime so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less...
(DST) after meeting William Willett
William Willett
William Willett , was an English builder and a tireless promoter of British Summer Time.-Biography:Willett was born in Farnham, Surrey, in the United Kingdom, and educated at the Philological School. After some commercial experience, he entered his father's building business, Willett Building...
who had been promoting it in England. His advocacy for the bill to enact DST earned the sobriquet
Sobriquet
A sobriquet is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another. It is usually a familiar name, distinct from a pseudonym assumed as a disguise, but a nickname which is familiar enough such that it can be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation...
Anderson's Time. Newfoundland became the first jurisdiction in North America to adopt DST.
Anderson was the father of Captain Hugh Abercrombie Anderson
Hugh Abercrombie Anderson
Captain Hugh Abercrombie Anderson MBE was a Canadian writer.Born in St. John's, Newfoundland, Anderson was the son of politician John Anderson. Following and education at Bishop Feild College and Edinburgh Academy, the first few years of his career was at the family business in St...
, a Newfoundland playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
and member of Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
who wrote the musical Auld Lang Syne
Auld Lang Syne
"Auld Lang Syne" is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song . It is well known in many countries, especially in the English-speaking world; its traditional use being to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight...
.