Kent, John (1805–72), premier of Newfoundland, Canada, was born in Co. Waterford, but apart from the year and place of his birth there are no details about his early life. In 1820 he emigrated to Newfoundland, where he worked as a clerk in the office of his uncle, Patrick Morris. He established himself as a successful auctioneer and land agent, and in 1830 married the sister of the Roman catholic bishop, Michael Anthony Fleming (d. 1850); this proved a useful connection.
Kent became increasingly influential in politics and played a major role in the establishment of the first Newfoundland assembly in 1832. Thanks in part to Fleming, he was elected to the assembly, representing St John's, and he never suffered a personal defeat in any electoral contest. A powerful orator, he had no hesitation in playing to the crowd, and his fiery temper often led him into vindictive outbursts against his opponents. In 1837 he had his nose pulled on the street by Dr Edward Kelly, who was jailed for the offence; the incident dominated political debate for the year. Appointed to the new amalgamated legislature in 1842, Kent became speaker in 1849 when the assemblies separated again, but he resigned his seat after being made collector of customs later the same year.
Although he matured in outlook, Kent was still considered one of the most inflammatory of the Liberals. He returned to the assembly in 1852, and served as colonial secretary in the first cabinet after Newfoundland was granted responsible government. In 1858 he became its second premier, after Philip Francis Little (1824–97) was appointed to the supreme court, and he and his party were returned to power in the election the following year. Unfortunately his time in government was not a happy one: his ministry was riven by religious disagreements and undermined by economic difficulties. The potato crop failed in 1860 and Kent refused to be rushed into supporting relief measures. This provoked great popular resentment and divided his party, and he was harsh in his invective against critics. Hinting at a conspiracy to overthrow him in 1861, he angered the governor, Sir Alexander Bannerman, who demanded an explanation; none was forthcoming, and Kent was dismissed as premier after Bannerman had ascertained that his uncompromising style had become unpopular.
Furious at his dismissal, which he rejected as unconstitutional, he campaigned with great vehemence during the general election of 1861, which became in effect a referendum on his removal. In the event, Kent and the Liberals were narrowly defeated. Replaced as leader of the opposition by his hated foe, Ambrose Shea, he never recovered from this reverse. Although he became receiver general in a later coalition government (1865–9), he had lost much of his enthusiasm for politics and retired after the government was defeated in the general election of 13 November 1869. He died 1 September 1872 at his home at St John's.
Kent's career reflected the religious divide in Newfoundland, which he often manipulated for his own political purposes. A direct, and often dictatorial politician, his style of demagogic leadership became increasingly anachronistic in the developing Newfoundland polity.