Nicholas Vinnicombe

Nicholas Joseph "Nix" Vinnicombe (January 14, 1877[1] – April 10, 1928[2]) was a merchant and politician in Newfoundland. He represented St. John's East in the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1919 to 1925.[1]

The son of Nicholas Vinnicombe and Hannah McCarthy, he was born in St. John's and was educated at Saint Bonaventure's College. In 1892, he went to work for the merchant James Stott. He set up his own licensed establishment in 1904.[1] Vinnicombe served on St. John's municipal council from 1916 to 1925.[3] He was a member of the municipal commission and deputy mayor from 1920 to 1921. He was first elected to the Newfoundland assembly in 1919 and won reelection in 1923 and 1924. In 1925, he was named to the Board of Liquor Control.[1]

In 1905, Vinnicombe married Annie Sutton.

He was also a well-known athlete, playing cricket, hockey and soccer and competing in rowing at various regattas. A hockey goalie, Vinnicombe was the first name engraved on the Boyle Trophy when it was first awarded in 1904. He competed on championship hockey teams in 1902, 1904, 1905, 1907 and 1909 and played on several championship soccer teams. Vinnicombe was inducted into the Sport Newfoundland and Labrador Hall of Fame in 1980.[4] He was named to the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Hall of Fame in 1985.[5]

He died suddenly in St. John's at the age of 51.[2]

Vinnicombe Street and Vinnicombe Place in St. John's were named in his honour.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Who's who in and from Newfoundland. 1927. pp. 299–300.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Sudden Passing of N. J. Vinicombe". Daily News. April 11, 1928.
  3. ↑ Baker, Melvin (1988). "St. John's Municipal Chairmen and Mayors, 1888-1988". Newfoundland Quarterly. LXXX1V (1).
  4. ↑ "Nicholas J. "Nix" Vinicombe - Athlete". Hall of Fame. Sport Newfoundland and Labrador.
  5. ↑ "The Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Hall of Fame". Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association.
  6. ↑ "History:Street Names, Areas, Monuments, Plaques". St. John's Archives. City of St. John's. September 25, 2012.