Philip Francis Little

The Honourable Philip Francis Little
1st Prime Minister of Newfoundland
In office 7 May 1855 – 15 July 1858
Monarch	Victoria
Lieutenant Governor	Charles Henry Darling Alexander Bannerman
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	John Kent
Supreme Court of Newfoundland Chief Justice
In office 29 November 1858 – 1868
Personal details
Born	1824 (1824) Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Colony
Died	October 21, 1897(1897-10-21) (aged 72–73) Monkstown, County Dublin, Ireland
Political party	Liberal Party

Philip Francis Little (1824 – October 21, 1897) was the first Premier of Newfoundland between 1855 and 1858. He was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Little studied law there with Charles Young and was admitted to the bar in 1844.

He came to Newfoundland in 1846 and articled in law, the first Roman Catholic to practise law in St. John's. His strong views on responsible government, his connections in St. John's Catholic society, and his ability to unite disparate elements of the Liberal Party propelled him to a leadership role in politics.

He helped lead the charge for responsible government along with John Kent. After it was granted in 1854, he went on to run a successful campaign as leader of the predominantly Roman Catholic Liberal Party. He became Newfoundland's first Premier in 1855 and served concurrently as the colony's Attorney-General. D.W. Prowse would record that it was, "as near to perfection as possible". With the period of 1855-1857 described as being "the sunshine of prosperity." Little only remained in office until July 15, 1858, when he resigned to be succeeded by John Kent.

He resigned in 1858 saying "I go now before the milk of Human kindness goes sour for me". He was right in that Newfoundland was about to enter an era of sectarian strife.

He was appointed as assistant justice on the Supreme Court of Newfoundland in September 1858 and became Chief Justice two months later. In 1861, riots broke out over disputed election results from Harbour Grace. Little, as Chief Justice, played a prominent role in dispersing and calming the crowds.

Personal life

He married Mary Jane Holdright, from a wealthy Anglo-Irish family, in 1864. Philip Little retired to Ireland in 1868 and worked for the Home Rule movement there. He and his wife had 13 children, the youngest of whom, Patrick, became a politician. Philip Francis Little died at age 73 in 1897 in Monkstown, County Dublin.

Bibliography

• "Philip Francis Little". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.
• Biography at The Canadian Encyclopedia