Joey Smallwood

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The Honourable Joey Smallwood PC CC
Smallwood in 1948
1st Premier of Newfoundland
In office April 1, 1949 – January 18, 1972
Monarchs	George VI Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor	Albert Walsh Leonard Outerbridge Campbell Macpherson Fabian O'Dea Ewart Harnum
Preceded by	Frederick C. Alderdice as Prime Minister of Newfoundland (1934)
Succeeded by	Frank Moores
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Bonavista North
In office May 27, 1949 – August 20, 1959
Preceded by	New District
Succeeded by	Edward S. Spencer
In office November 19, 1962 – September 8, 1966
Preceded by	Edward S. Spencer
Succeeded by	Beaton Abbott
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for St. John's West
In office August 20, 1959 – November 19, 1962
Preceded by	Malcolm Hollett
Succeeded by	William G. Adams
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Humber West
In office September 8, 1966 – October 28, 1971
Preceded by	Charles Ballam
Succeeded by	Frank Moores
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Placentia East
In office October 28, 1971 – March 24, 1972
Preceded by	Alain Frecker
Succeeded by	Fintan Aylward
Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly for Twillingate
In office September 16, 1975 – June 18, 1977
Preceded by	Herbert Gillett
Succeeded by	Bill Rowe
Personal details
Born	Joseph Roberts Smallwood December 24, 1900 Gambo, Colony of Newfoundland
Died	December 17, 1991(1991-12-17) (aged 90) St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Clara Oates (1901–1996)
Children	William R. Smallwood, Ramsey Smallwood, and Clara Smallwood Russell
Signature

Joseph Roberts Smallwood PC CC (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 Newfoundland, serving until 1972. As premier, he vigorously promoted economic development, championed the welfare state, and emphasized modernization of education and transportation. The results of his efforts to promote industrialization were mixed, with the most favourable results in hydroelectricity, iron mining and paper mills.^[1]

Smallwood was charismatic and controversial. While many Canadians today remember Smallwood as the man who brought Newfoundland into Canada, the opinions held by Newfoundlanders and their diaspora remain sharply divided as to his legacy.^[2]