John Anderson (Newfoundland politician)
John Anderson | |
|---|---|
Anderson in 1894 | |
| Member of the Legislative Council of Newfoundland | |
| In office 1905 – November 8, 1930 | |
| Appointed by | Robert Bond |
| Succeeded by | Harold Macpherson |
| Member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly for St. John's West | |
| In office November 8, 1900 – October 31, 1904 Serving with Edward Morris and John Scott | |
| Preceded by | James C. Tessier James J. Callanan |
| Succeeded by | John R. Bennett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 27, 1855 |
| Died | November 8, 1930 (aged 75) St. John's, Newfoundland |
| Party | Liberal |
| Spouses | Amelia Murray (m. 1884)Clymena "Minnie" Kaye
(m. 1917) |
| Children | 2 (John and Hugh) |
| Occupation | Merchant |
John Anderson (January 27, 1855 – November 8, 1930) was a Scottish-born Newfoundland businessman and politician. Anderson emigrated to Newfoundland as a young man and became the prosperous owner of a dry goods firm. As a Liberal supporter of Premier Robert Bond, he served as a member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly for St. John's West from 1900 to 1904 before Bond appointed him to the Legislative Council of Newfoundland. He was also a member of the St. John's City Council from 1902 to 1906 and a member of the municipal commission that governed the city from 1914 to 1916. As a municipal councillor, Anderson advocated for financial austerity measures and the construction of low-income housing.
Anderson is most well-known for his instrumental role in the introduction of daylight saving time in Newfoundland, which was the first North American country to adopt the measure. He had successfully persuaded the Legislative Council to pass a daylight saving bill in 1910, but it was rejected by the House of Assembly. However, the idea gained renewed interest in political circles during the First World War, and the House of Assembly passed the Daylight Saving Act of 1917.