John Gilbert Higgins
Encyclopedia
John Gilbert Higgins (May 7, 1891 – July 1, 1963) was a Newfoundland
politician, Senator and lawyer.
and was selected one of Newfoundland's Rhodes Scholars in 1909. He studied law at Merton College, Oxford
and was captain of the Oxford-Canadian ice hockey
team which toured Europe
and was undefeated in its 17 matches, outscoring its opponents 204 goals to 17.
of Newfoundland and England and began practicing law in St. John's, Newfoundland. In 1916, he joined the Canadian Corps
's St. Francis Xavier Hospital Unit and served for the remainder of World War I
in England and France. After the war, Higgins returned to Newfoundland and established a law partnership with Harry Winter
in 1919.
, Higgins opposed Joey Smallwood
's resolution that Newfoundland join Canadian Confederation
. He became a leading member of the Responsible Government League
and campaigned against joining Canada in the 1948 Newfoundland referendums
. When Newfoundland joined Canada on March 31, 1949, Higgins hung black crepe on his door as a symbol of mourning.
In Newfoundland's first provincial election
on May 27, 1949, Higgins was elected to the Newfoundland House of Assembly as a Progressive Conservative
from St. John's East
. As party leader Harry Mews
failed to win his seat, Higgins became the province's first Leader of the Opposition
. Preferring his legal practice to politics, Higgins did not run for re-election in 1951
.
On January 15, 1959, Prime Minister
John George Diefenbaker appointed Higgins as Newfoundland's first Progressive Conservative member of the Canadian Senate
, where he served until his death in 1963.
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...
politician, Senator and lawyer.
Early life
He was educated from the age of five at Saint Bonaventure's CollegeSaint Bonaventure's College
St. Bonaventure's College is an independent kindergarten to grade 12 Catholic School in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is located in the historic centre of North America's oldest city, adjacent to the Roman Catholic Basilica of St...
and was selected one of Newfoundland's Rhodes Scholars in 1909. He studied law at Merton College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
and was captain of the Oxford-Canadian ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team which toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and was undefeated in its 17 matches, outscoring its opponents 204 goals to 17.
Career
In 1913 he was called to the barCall to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
of Newfoundland and England and began practicing law in St. John's, Newfoundland. In 1916, he joined the Canadian Corps
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
's St. Francis Xavier Hospital Unit and served for the remainder of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in England and France. After the war, Higgins returned to Newfoundland and established a law partnership with Harry Winter
Harry Winter
Harry Winter , born Horst Winter, was a German-Austrian singer who performed at the 1960 Eurovision Song Contest...
in 1919.
Political ambitions
During the Newfoundland National ConventionNewfoundland National Convention
The Newfoundland National Convention of 1946 was a forum established to decide the constitutional future of Newfoundland-Nominations:On 11 December 1945 the Government of Britain announced that there would be an election to a National Convention, which would debate constitutional options and make a...
, Higgins opposed Joey Smallwood
Joey Smallwood
Joseph Roberts "Joey" Smallwood, PC, CC was the main force that brought Newfoundland into the Canadian confederation, and became the first Premier of Newfoundland . As premier, he vigorously promoted economic development, championed the welfare state, and emphasized modernization of education and...
's resolution that Newfoundland join Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
. He became a leading member of the Responsible Government League
Responsible Government League
The Responsible Government League was a political movement in the Dominion of Newfoundland.The Responsible Government League of Newfoundland, led by Peter Cashin, was formed in February 1947 by anti-Confederation delegates to the Newfoundland National Convention on the future of the colony...
and campaigned against joining Canada in the 1948 Newfoundland referendums
Newfoundland referendums, 1948
The Newfoundland Referendums of 1948 were a series of two referendums to decide the political future of the Dominion of Newfoundland. Before the referendums, Newfoundland was in debt and went through several delegations to determine whether the country would join Canada, remain under British rule...
. When Newfoundland joined Canada on March 31, 1949, Higgins hung black crepe on his door as a symbol of mourning.
In Newfoundland's first provincial election
Newfoundland general election, 1949
The 30th Newfoundland general election was held on 27 May 1949 to elect members of the 29th General Assembly of Newfoundland. It was the first general election held since Newfoundland joined Canadian confederation on 31 March 1949 and the first Newfoundland-wide election of any kind since the...
on May 27, 1949, Higgins was elected to the Newfoundland House of Assembly as a Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador
For pre-1949 Conservative parties see Conservative parties in Newfoundland The Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a centre-right provincial political party in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Originally founded in 1949 the party has formed the Government of...
from St. John's East
St. John's East
St. John's East is a federal electoral district in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1949....
. As party leader Harry Mews
Harry Mews
Henry George Reginald Mews was the eighth mayor of St. John's, Newfoundland and a political leader in the province....
failed to win his seat, Higgins became the province's first Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Newfoundland and Labrador)
The Leader of the Opposition in Newfoundland and Labrador is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly.This list is incomplete...
. Preferring his legal practice to politics, Higgins did not run for re-election in 1951
Newfoundland general election, 1951
The 31st Newfoundland general election was held on 26 November 1951 to elect members of the 30th General Assembly of Newfoundland, the second general election for the province of Newfoundland, Canada. It was won by the Liberal party.-Results:...
.
On January 15, 1959, Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
John George Diefenbaker appointed Higgins as Newfoundland's first Progressive Conservative member of the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
, where he served until his death in 1963.