William Joseph Woodford (1858 – January 23, 1944) was a politician 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 Harbour Main in the

Newfoundland 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 1889 to 1900 and from 1908 to 1928.

Early life

The son of William Woodford, a sealing captain, and Sarah Cole, he was born in St. John's and was educated at

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 ...

. Woodford married Minnie Whidden. He took up the trades of carpentry and

plasterwork Plasterwork is construction or ornamentation done with plaster, such as a layer of plaster on an interior or exterior wall structure, or plaster Molding (decorative), decorative moldings on ceilings or walls. This is also sometimes called parge ...

. Woodford also managed real estate holdings acquired by his father.

Politics

Woodford was first elected as one of two members for the district of

Harbour Main Harbour Main, formerly Harbour Main-Whitbourne and Harbour Main-Bell Island, is a provincial electoral district for the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Prior to 1975, the district elected two MHAs. Between 1972 and the y ...

1889 Events January * January 1 ** The total solar eclipse of January 1, 1889 is seen over parts of California and Nevada. ** Paiute spiritual leader Wovoka experiences a vision, leading to the start of the Ghost Dance movement in the Dakotas ...

as a

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * Generally, a supporter of the political philosophy liberalism. Liberals may be politically left or right but tend to be centrist. * An adherent of a Liberal Party (See also Liberal parties by country ...

supporter of Sir

William Whiteway Sir William Vallance Whiteway, (April 1, 1828 – June 24, 1908) was a Newfoundlander politician who was a three time Premier of Newfoundland. Life and career Born in Littlehempston, Devon, England, Whiteway emigrated to Newfoundland in ...

. was named to the Executive Council as Financial Secretary in 1894. He became a

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

in 1897, and after he was re-elected, he was named to the Executive Council as Minister of Public Works under James S. Winter. However, in 1900, he supported a

vote of no confidence A motion or vote of no confidence (or the inverse, a motion or vote of confidence) is a motion and corresponding vote thereon in a deliberative assembly (usually a legislative body) as to whether an officer (typically an executive) is deemed fi ...

which brought down the Winter government, and he did not run for re-election. Woodford returned to the assembly in 1908 as a member of the

Newfoundland People's Party The Newfoundland People's Party was a political party in the Dominion of Newfoundland before it joined Canada. The party was created by Attorney-General Edward Patrick Morris in 1907, when he split from the ruling Liberal Party to found his ow ...

. He served in the cabinet again as Minister of Public Works and later as Minister of Posts and Telegraphs. Woodford retired from politics in 1928.

Later Life

After he left the assembly, he served as Supervisor of Lighthouses for a year. He died in St. John's on January 23, 1944.

References

Members of the Executive Council of Newfoundland and Labrador 1858 births 1944 deaths Newfoundland Colony people {{Newfoundland-politician-stub