Samuel James Hefferton (March 28, 1896 – February 16, 1980) was a Canadian politician, journalist and educator. He represented the

electoral district An electoral (congressional, legislative, etc.) district, sometimes called a constituency, riding, or ward, is a geographical portion of a political unit, such as a country, state or province, city, or administrative region, created to provi ...

of Trinity North 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 1949 to 1956. He was a member of the

Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is a political party in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is one of the three parties currently represented in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly, and one of two t ...

. The son of Jacob and Dinah Jane Hefferton, he was educated in Newton, at

Bishop Feild College Bishop Feild College (originally Church of England Academy; formerly Church of England College and Bishop Feild School; currently Bishop Feild Elementary), founded in 1844, is a school in St. John's, Newfoundland. Founded as the Church of Engl ...

, at

Memorial University Memorial University of Newfoundland, or MUN (), is a Public university, public research university in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, with satellite campuses in Corner Brook ...

, at Queen's University and at

London University The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degr ...

in England. He began teaching in 1911 but joined the

Royal Newfoundland Regiment The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (R NFLD R) is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of the 5th Canadian Division's 37 Canadian Brigade Group. Predecessor units trace their origins to 1795, and since 1949 Royal ...

during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Hefferton married Minnie DeGrish in 1918. After the war, he worked on the '' Evening Telegram'' and later served as managing editor for ''The Industrial Worker''. In 1920, Hefferton returned to teaching and was principal for various high schools. He served as president of the Newfoundland Teachers Association from 1942 to 1949. In 1949, he resigned from teaching. Hefferton served as Minister of Education in the interim government formed by

Joey Smallwood Joseph Roberts Smallwood (December 24, 1900 – December 17, 1991) was a Newfoundlander and Canadian politician. He was the main force who brought the Dominion of Newfoundland into Canadian Confederation in 1949, becoming the first premier of ...

and then was elected to the Newfoundland assembly later that year. He served in the Newfoundland cabinet as Minister of Education and then as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Supply and later Minister of Health. He was named Minister of Public Welfare in 1957 but resigned from the assembly in 1959 when he was named chairman of the St. John's Metropolitan Board and also of the Provincial Planning Board. He had resigned from both boards by 1966. He continued to live in St. John's until his death at the age of 83.

References

1896 births 1980 deaths Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador MHAs Members of the Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Bishop Feild School alumni Newfoundland military personnel of World War I Royal Newfoundland Regiment soldiers 20th-century members of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly {{Newfoundland-politician-stub