Charles Joseph Howlett (January 25, 1885 – March 31, 1932) was a dental surgeon, politician and amateur actor in

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador, having a total size of . As of 2025 the population ...

. He served as mayor of St. John's from 1929 to 1932. The son of Mary Byrne and John Howlett, he was born in St. John's and was educated at St. Patrick's Hall,

Saint Bonaventure's College St. Bonaventure's College (commonly called St. Bon's) is an independent kindergarten to grade 12 Roman Catholic Church, Catholic School in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is located in the St. John's Ecclesiastical District, adj ...

, the

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...

and the Philadelphia Dental College. He set up practice in St. John's in 1906. In 1908, Howlett married Eleanor M. Walsh. Before being elected as mayor in 1929, he was active in local amateur theatre productions. From 1916 to 1929, he was president of the Newfoundland Dental Board. From 1928 to 1929, Howlett was president of the local

Rotary Club Rotary International is one of the largest Service club, service organizations in the world. The self-declared mission of Rotary, as stated on its website, is to "provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, go ...

. As mayor during the

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

, Howlett focused on the city's finances, battling the provincial government for more control over borrowing and for access to the city's share of district grants. He initiated infrastructure improvements such as street paving which also provided much needed jobs. In 1932, he organized a civic relief committee to aid the poor of the city. After experiencing health problems worsened by the demands of his job as mayor, Howlett died in hospital at St. John's at the age of 47.

References

1885 births 1932 deaths Mayors of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador 20th-century mayors of places in Newfoundland and Labrador {{Newfoundland-politician-stub