Sir Robert Bond

Sir Robert Bond (born Feb. 25, 1857, St. John’s, Nfd. [Canada]—died March 16, 1927, Whitbourne) was the leader of the Liberal Party in Newfoundland and prime minister of the British colony from 1900 to 1909.

Bond was elected to the Newfoundland House of Assembly in 1882. He became speaker in 1884 and colonial secretary in 1889 in the Liberal ministry. His attempts to settle the fishing rights allowed to France and the United States were overruled by the United Kingdom and, although France gave up the right to use Newfoundland shores in 1904, agreement was not made between the United States and the imperial government until 1910.

As prime minister, Bond made major concessions to outside capital to stimulate home economy. Consequently, the London Daily Mail established at Grand Falls a paper mill that led to development of logging as Newfoundland’s major land-based industry. He resigned in 1909 after disagreeing with the British governor over procedure following the deadlocked election in 1908 and formed an alliance with a radical fishermen’s union, but his influence declined and he retired in 1914. He was knighted in 1901.