In search of speaker Thomas Bennett.

• Author: Schioldan, Trine
• Position: Biography

Most legislative chambers have complete collections of paintings or photographs of individuals who have held the office of Speaker. In 2004 the author learned that the collection of Speakers' portraits which encircle the floor of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador was incomplete. There was no existing likeness of Thomas Bennett, who held the office of Speaker from 1834-1837. With the blessing of the Clerk, a comprehensive search was started by the Legislative Library for a likeness of Speaker Bennett. This article outlines the steps that led to the completion of the Speakers' portrait collection, thereby filling a longstanding gap in that province's Legislative history.

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The Speakers' portrait collection is proud testimony to the history and governance of Newfoundland and Labrador. John G. Higgins, Leader of the Opposition, while speaking about the hanging of portraits of pre-Confederation Speakers in the House of Assembly said in 1951:

... we are reminded of the men who played a big part in the pages of Newfoundland history ... they should serve us as an example of modesty, to be modest in our own ideas, not to think too much of ourselves, not to feel we are the only statesmen in the world, the only ones that God created in this country. I think I heard someone say one time: "The men here are the finest body of men who ever sat in this House. (1) One of the first actions of any elected Assembly has always been the selection of a Speaker. This activity must take place before any other business can be brought before the House. This practice dates back to when the House of Assembly first met in St. John's on January 1, 1833. The initial order of business was the selection of John Bingley Garland for the position of Speaker. Garland held the post until he was appointed to the Legislative Council shortly thereafter. This vacancy meant that a new Speaker had to be chosen. On January 29,1834, on the first day of the third session of the first General Assembly, Thomas Bennett was chosen as the second Speaker of the House of Assembly, after a close contest and vote. Over the next hundred years, until the arrival of Commission of Government in 1934 and up to Confederation with Canada, twenty-five Speakers, referred to above as "the finest body of men who ever sat in this House," held office after Thomas Bennett.

In 1949, shortly after Newfoundland joined Canada, Premier Joseph Smallwood commissioned Frederick Steiger to paint portraits of all of the pre-Confederation Speakers...