John Robert Bennett

The Honourable Sir John R. Bennett KBE
Colonial Secretary
In office 1924–1928
Prime Minister	Walter S. Monroe
Preceded by	William Halfyard
Succeeded by	Michael S. Sullivan
In office May 1919 – November 1919
Prime Minister	Michael Cashin
Preceded by	William Halfyard
Succeeded by	Richard Squires
In office 1913–1917
Prime Minister	Edward Morris
Preceded by	Robert Watson
Succeeded by	Richard Squires
Minister of Finance and Customs
In office May 2, 1924 (1924-05-02) – May 7, 1924 (1924-05-07)
Prime Minister	William Warren
Preceded by	William H. Cave
Succeeded by	John Crosbie
Minister of Militia
In office 1917 – May 1919
Prime Minister	Edward Morris William F. Lloyd
Preceded by	Portfolio established
Succeeded by	Portfolio abolished
Legislative offices Member of the Legislative Council of Newfoundland In office February 7, 1933 (1933-02-07) – February 16, 1934 (1934-02-16) Nominated by Frederick C. Alderdice Appointed by Murray Anderson Member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly for Harbour Grace In office June 2, 1924 (1924-06-02) – October 29, 1928 (1928-10-29) Serving with Albert Hickman and Charles Russell Preceded by Archibald Piccott Ernest Simmons Augustus Calpin Succeeded by Frank Archibald Member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly for St. John's West In office October 31, 1904 (1904-10-31) – May 3, 1923 (1923-05-03) Serving with Edward Morris (1904–19) John Scott (1904–08) Michael Kennedy (1908–17) Richard Squires (1919–23) Henry J. Brownrigg (1919–23) Preceded by John Anderson Succeeded by Charles Hunt Michael Cashin
Personal details
Born	John Robert Bennett (1866-08-08)August 8, 1866 St. John's, Newfoundland Colony
Died	October 23, 1941(1941-10-23) (aged 75) St. John's, Newfoundland
Party	Liberal (1904–1908) People's (1908–1919) Liberal-Progressive (1919–1923) Liberal-Labour-Progressive (1923–1924) Liberal-Conservative Progressive (1924–1928)
Spouses	Laura Taylor ​ (m. 1891)​ Beatrice Shannon Greaves ​ ​ (m. 1936)​
Education	Church of England Academy
Occupation	Merchant

Sir John Robert Bennett KBE (August 8, 1866 – October 23, 1941) was a merchant and politician in Newfoundland. He represented St. John's West from 1904 to 1923, and Harbour Grace from 1924 to 1928 in the Newfoundland House of Assembly.

Biography

The son of Edward W. Bennett and Amelia Goff, he was born in St. John's and was educated at the Church of England Academy.

Bennett began work with C. F. Bennett & Company in 1881 as a clerk. He later joined his brother's brewing business, later becoming president and managing director. From 1902 to 1906, he served on the St. John's municipal council. He served in the Newfoundland cabinet as Colonial Secretary from 1913 to 1917, and from 1924 to 1928. From 1917 until the end of World War I, Bennett served as Minister of Militia, where he was one of the main points of contact for families inquiring about the statuses of their relatives serving overseas. He organized the Liberal-Progressive Party in 1923 but was defeated when he ran for reelection that year. Bennett was elected to the assembly again in 1924, this time for Harbour Grace.

Bennett was named a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1926; also in 1926, he was named District Grand Master of English Freemasonry in Newfoundland.

He was married twice, first to Laura Taylor in 1891 and then to Beatrice Shannon Greaves in 1936.

He died in St. John's on October 23, 1941.

References

External links

• "Sir John R. Bennett". Newfoundland and The Great War. Archived from the original on February 18, 2015.