Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Hugh Hoyles

Hugh Hoyles was the Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1861 through 1865.

Sir Hugh Hoyles
Rank:3rd (1861-1865)
Date of Birth:1814
Place of Birth:St. John's, Newfoundland
Date of Death:1888
Place of Death:Halifax, Nova Scotia
Profession:Merchant
Political Party:Conservative Party of Newfoundland
Predecessor:John Kent
Sucessor:Frederick Carter

Born in St. John's, in 1814, Hoyles was the son of Newman Hoyles, the first leader of the Tory Party in Newfoundland. Hoyles at first opposed "responsible government", as his father at first opposed respentative government. He led the Conservatives in 1855 but failed to win the election. He also lost the 1859 election.

In 1861, after a period of sectarian violence, Hoyles became Newfoundland's first native-born Prime Minister.

During his administration, he tried to cool down sectarian tensions between Catholics and Protestants. He also sent delegates to the Canadian Confederation Conference at Charlottetown in 1864. Those delegates, Ambroise Shea and Frederick Carter, did not have the power to negotiate.

Hoyles decided to leave office and return to his mercantile operations in 1865. He was suceded by Sir Frederick Carter. He would later move on to Halifax where he would