John Steer (1824–1918) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

-born merchant and political figure 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 represented Trinity Bay in the

Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly () is the Unicameralism, unicameral deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It meets in the Confederation Bu ...

from 1873 to 1878 as a Conservative. He was born in

Torquay Torquay ( ) is a seaside town in Devon, England, part of the unitary authority area of Torbay. It lies south of the county town of Exeter and east-north-east of Plymouth, on the north of Tor Bay, adjoining the neighbouring town of Paignt ...

Devon Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...

and came to Newfoundland as an infant. He first worked as a dry goods clerk. Steer married Amelia, the sister of Charles R. Ayre. He worked in partnership with his brother-in-law from 1844 to 1858 and then opened his own dry goods store. His son Francis Henry Steer later served in the Newfoundland legislative council.

References

* 19th-century members of the Newfoundland House of Assembly 1824 births 1918 deaths Newfoundland Colony people English emigrants to pre-Confederation Newfoundland {{Newfoundland-politician-stub