William Warren
Encyclopedia
William Robertson Warren (October 9, 1879 – December 31, 1927) was a Newfoundland
lawyer, politician and judge who served as the dominion
's Prime Minister
from July 1923 to April 1924.
, President of Job Brothers & Co., Limited
.
He received his education at Bishop Feild College
, St. John's, Newfoundland
and Framlingham College
, in England. After studying law, Warren was admitted as a solicitor in 1901
in 1903 as a Liberal and served as Speaker
of the House from 1909-1913. In 1919 he became minister of justice in the Cabinet
of Sir Richard Squires
. The Squires government became embroiled in a scandal over allegations of corruption and misspending of government funds and Squires resigned in protest along with three other ministers in 1923. The next year Squires was forced to resign and Warren was chosen the party's new leader and Prime Minister. His government launced a formal inquiry into the corruption charges which resulted in the arrest and conviction of Squires and several others. Warren's supporters turned against him and moved a Motion of No Confidence
that defeated his government. Warren moved to the opposition benches and was formed a coalition with Tory
William J. Higgins
to form the new Liberal-Conservative Progressive Party that won the election a few weeks later making the conservative Walter Stanley Monroe
the new Prime Minister.
In 1926, Warren resigned from the House of Assembly and was appointed to the colony's Supreme Court
.
, and two daughters. He was married secondly to Emilie Jackson (died 1934) by whom he had one daughter.
Warren died in 1927.
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
lawyer, politician and judge who served as the dominion
Dominion
A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century. They have included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland,...
's Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
from July 1923 to April 1924.
Early life
His parents were William Matthew Henry Warren, a surveyor, and Jessie Sophia Warren. He had at least one sibling, a sister, Alice Mary Warren (died 1930), who was married to Robert Brown JobRobert Brown Job
Robert Brown Job Knt. was an English-born businessman, politician, and economic unionist in the Colony of Newfoundland. He was the oldest elected member of the Newfoundland National Convention.-Early years:...
, President of Job Brothers & Co., Limited
Job Brothers & Co., Limited
Job Brothers & Co., Limited was a Colony of Newfoundland-based mercantile empire that spanned three centuries. The main business of the company centered around production and development of fisheries rather than trading...
.
He received his education at Bishop Feild College
Bishop Feild College
Bishop Feild College , founded in 1844, is a school in St. John's, Newfoundland...
, St. John's, Newfoundland
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
and Framlingham College
Framlingham College
Framlingham College is an independent, coeducational boarding and day school in the town of Framlingham, near Woodbridge, Suffolk, England. Together with its preparatory school, Brandeston Hall and Little Bears Nursery it serves pupils from 2 1/2 to eighteen years of age.-History of Framlingham...
, in England. After studying law, Warren was admitted as a solicitor in 1901
Career
Warren was first elected to the Newfoundland House of AssemblyHouse of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level....
in 1903 as a Liberal and served as Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the House from 1909-1913. In 1919 he became minister of justice in the Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of Sir Richard Squires
Richard Squires
Sir Richard Anderson Squires KCMG was the Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1919 to 1923 and from 1928 to 1932.-Early career:...
. The Squires government became embroiled in a scandal over allegations of corruption and misspending of government funds and Squires resigned in protest along with three other ministers in 1923. The next year Squires was forced to resign and Warren was chosen the party's new leader and Prime Minister. His government launced a formal inquiry into the corruption charges which resulted in the arrest and conviction of Squires and several others. Warren's supporters turned against him and moved a Motion of No Confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
that defeated his government. Warren moved to the opposition benches and was formed a coalition with Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
William J. Higgins
William J. Higgins
William John Higgins was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Newfoundland. He represented St. John's East in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1913 to 1928 as a member of the Newfoundland People's Party, Liberal Progressive party, Liberal-Labour-Progressive party and the...
to form the new Liberal-Conservative Progressive Party that won the election a few weeks later making the conservative Walter Stanley Monroe
Walter Stanley Monroe
Walter Stanley Monroe was a businessman and conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1924 to 1928 as leader of the Liberal-Conservative Progressive Party....
the new Prime Minister.
In 1926, Warren resigned from the House of Assembly and was appointed to the colony's Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador is the superior court for the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador has jurisdiction to hear appeals in both criminal and civil matters from the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador ,...
.
Personal life
He was married first to Ethel Alice Gordon, by whom he had one son, John Henry WarrenJohn Henry Warren
John Henry Warren was an English-born merchant and politician in Newfoundland. He represented Bonavista Bay from 1852 to 1869 and from 1874 to 1878 and Trinity Bay from 1871 to 1874 in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly.He was born in Devon, the son of William Warren, and is known to...
, and two daughters. He was married secondly to Emilie Jackson (died 1934) by whom he had one daughter.
Warren died in 1927.