William Penman Saunders Explained

Honorific Prefix:The Honourable
William Saunders
Birthname:William Penman Saunders
Birth Date:15 September 1912
Birth Place:Carbonear, Dominion of Newfoundland
Death Place:Carbonear, Newfoundland
Riding:Bay de Verde
Predecessor:George Clarke
Successor:Brendan Howard
Term Start:June 1962
Term End:February 1972
Party:Liberal
Footnotes:[1]

William Penman Saunders (September 15, 1912  - 1980) was a business manager and politician in Newfoundland. He represented Bay de Verde in the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1962 to 1971.

The son of William and Ursula Saunders, he was born in Carbonear and was educated there. He managed Saunders Cooperage and the Carbonear branch of Harvey and Company Ltd. Saunders married Victoria Piercey; the couple had four children.[2] He served on the municipal council for Carbonear from 1950 to 1958 and was mayor from 1958 to 1962.

Saunders was elected to the Newfoundland assembly in 1962 and was reelected in 1966 and 1971. However, in 1971, he resigned before taking his seat in the assembly which led to a tie in terms of number of seats held between the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives. A new election was called[3] which resulted in a solid Conservative majority.[4]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/144633095/william-p-saunders#view-photo=285622188
  2. Book: Newfoundland who's who : Centennial edition 1967-1968 . 247.
  3. Encyclopedia: Saunders, William Penman. . 90 .
  4. Web site: Changing Government 1971-72 . Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage . Memorial University.