Background
Born in Saint John"s, he was the son of Newman Hoyles, the first leader of the Tory Party.
politician Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
Born in Saint John"s, he was the son of Newman Hoyles, the first leader of the Tory Party.
Hoyles was the first premier of Newfoundland to have been born in the colony, and served from 1861 to 1865. Educated in Nova Scotia Hoyles trained as a lawyer and returned to Street John"s in 1842, quickly establishing a large and lucrative legal practice. He was eminent in the Natives" Society and the Newfoundland Church Society.
Hoyles was elected to the Assembly in 1848.
This proposal alienated Methodists who thereupon voted for the Catholic Liberal Party so that, in the 1855 election, the first after responsible government, Hoyles found himself leader of the Opposition. In 1861, his chance came when he was hired as a lawyer by senior judges to fight Premier John Kent"s plans to reduce their salaries.
When Kent accused the judges, the governor and the Conservatives of conspiracy the Governor fired Kent and appointed Hoyles as the new Premier. He also sent delegates to the Canadian Confederation Conference at Quebec in 1864.
Newfoundland had not been invited to Charlottetown.
Those delegates, Ambrose Shea for the opposition, and Frederick Carter, for the government, did not have the power to negotiate. Hoyles decided to leave office in 1865, before the crucial 1869 election which decided the fate of Confederation with Canada. He was succeeded by Sir Frederick Carter.
Hoyles was appointed Chief Justice of Newfoundland, a post which he filled with great distinction.
He died on February 1, 1888. Doctorate.W. Prowse, the nineteenth century Newfoundland historian, comments that "we are all proud of Sir Hugh as the most distinguished Newfoundlander of our day".
Hoyles married Jean Liddell (1813-1886), daughter of John Liddell, in 1842. The couple had four children.
Hoyles" wife died January l7th, 1886, and was buried at Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Their son, North. West. Hoyles, Esquire, Knights of Columbus, lived in Toronto, Ontario.