Thomas Gordon William Ashbourne

Thomas Gordon William Ashbourne (December 4, 1894 – March 8, 1984) was a Newfoundlander and Canadian politician. After serving in World War I, Ashbourne served in the Newfoundland House of Assembly as a member for Twillingate from 1924 to 1928. In 1946, he was elected to the Newfoundland National Convention, and he became a supporter of Newfoundland's Confederation with Canada. Following Newfoundland's entry into Canada, he then served in the Canadian Parliament for the riding of Grand Falls—White Bay—Labrador from 1949 to 1958.

Early life Ashbourne was born in Twillingate, Newfoundland to merchant William Ashbourne and Lucy Goodison (née Linfield). He attended Victoria College, University of Toronto, where he was classmates with Lester Pearson. Ashbourne would later claim that it was Pearson who convinced him that Newfoundland should ultimately join Canada. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1917, he joined the Canadian Army to serve in World War I, but he was later not allowed to fight due to an irregular heartbeat. He fought instead with the British Army in Flanders, and he was eventually promoted to Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Following the armistice, Ashbourne returned to Twillingate and became the president of Ashbourne Limited, the family business. Ashbourne did not run for re-election in 1928.

Ashbourne re-entered politics in 1946 when he was elected to the Newfoundland National Convention as the member for Twillingate. He was a supporter of Newfoundland's entry into Canada. In 1947, he visited Parliament Hill as a member of the Ottawa Delegation which helped to negotiate the Terms of Union for Confederation with Canada.

Post-Confederation After Confederation, Ashbourne was elected to the House of Commons of Canada for the riding of Grand Falls—White Bay in 1949. A Liberal, he was re-elected in 1953 and 1957. Ashbourne retired in 1958.