Thomas Peyton (Newfoundland politician)

Thomas Peyton
Member of the Newfoundland House of Assembly
for Twillingate
In office
November 6, 1889 (1889-11-06) – November 6, 1893 (1893-11-06)
Serving with Edward P. Burgess and Jabez P. Thompson
Preceded byAugustus F. Goodridge
Smith McKay
Michael T. Knight
Succeeded byAugustus F. Goodridge
Michael T. Knight
Majority319 (5.67%)
Personal details
Bornc. 1828
Exploits, Newfoundland Colony
DiedSeptember 5, 1912(1912-09-05) (aged 83–84)
Twillingate, Newfoundland
Political partyLiberal
Spouse
Mary Ann Pearce
(m. 1858)
RelativesGeorgina Stirling (niece)
OccupationCivil servant

Thomas Peyton (c. 1828 – September 5, 1912) was a fisherman, civil servant and politician in Newfoundland. He represented Twillingate in the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1889 to 1893 as a Liberal.[1]

Early life and family

Peyton was born in Exploits, Burnt Island, the son of John Peyton Jr. and Eleanor Mahaney. He married Mary Ann Pearce of Twillingate on May 28, 1858. His son Ernest was the first Newfoundland member of the Royal North-West Mounted Police.[2] His niece, Georgina Stirling, was an opera singer known as the "Nightingale of the North".[3]

Civil service

Peyton managed the family salmon fishery on the Exploits River. He was a justice of the peace and also served as a deputy land surveyor on the geological survey of Newfoundland by Alexander Murray.[1] Peyton was briefly magistrate at Pilley's Island and served as fishery warden on rivers on Notre Dame Bay.[4] He is credited with the discovery of copper deposits at Green Bay in 1875.[1]

Peyton was elected to the House of Assembly in 1889 as a Liberal supporter of Premier William Whiteway. He chose not to seek re-election in 1893.

Peyton died at Twillingate on September 5, 1912.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Peyton family fonds". Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24.
  2. ^ "Ernest Peyton". Twillingate Museum.
  3. ^ "Nightingale of the North-Georgina Stirling". Community Memories. Twillingate Museum.
  4. ^ "Peyton Family". Memorial University.