William John

Education

He was born in Saint John"s and was educated there.

Career

He worked as a clerk for a time and then studied law with Charles O"Neill Conroy, son of James Gervé Conroy. Higgins was called to the Newfoundland bar in 1910. Higgins served as speaker for the Newfoundland assembly from 1918 to 1919.

He was leader of the Liberal-Labour-Progressive Party from 1923 to 1924.

Higgins served in the Newfoundland Executive Council as Minister of Justice and Attorney General. After he retired from politics in 1928, he was named a judge in the Newfoundland Supreme Court.

Achievements

• He excelled in sports: he rowed in the Royal Saint John"s Regatta from 1901 to 1908, was the Newfoundland champion in the mile run for two years, was president of a number of sports leagues and president of the Newfoundland Amateur Athletic Association.

Membership

He represented Saint 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 Liberal-Conservative Progressive Party.