Sir James Spearman Winter, (January 1, 1845 – October 6, 1911) was a Newfoundland politician who served as Premier of Newfoundland from 1897 to 1900.
Early life and legal career
Winter was born on January 1, 1845 in Lamaline, Newfoundland to James M. Winter, a customs officer from St. John's, and Harriet Winter (née Pitman). After studying in the Protestant schools in his father's hometown, he began work as a mercantile clerk in 1859 for lumber merchants William and Henry Thomas. In 1861, he started his career in law by articling in the office of then-Premier Hugh Hoyles. He was called to the Newfoundland bar in 1866, subsequently starting an independent legal practice. He eventually entered into a partnership with Donald Morison in 1881.
