John Watson MacNaught (1904-1984) grew up in Coleman, Prince Edward Island, one of four sons born to Robert Charles MacNaught (1870-1951) and Emily Morehead (1874-1950). He obtained a B.A. in 1928 and LL.B. in 1930 from Dalhousie University where he met his future wife Eva Palmer (d. 2000), daughter of W.E. Palmer of Halifax. They married 11 May 1932, moved to Summerside from Kensington in 1935 and had two sons, John William Palmer (d. 1996) and David Alexander. After serving as law clerk (1935-41) and then clerk (1941-45) at the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, he was elected to the House of Commons in 1945. He was re-elected in 1949 and 1953, but lost his Liberal seat in 1957. Upon his re-election to Parliament in 1963, he was appointed Solicitor General by Prime Minister Pearson and he held that post until 6 July 1965 when he became Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys. He was defeated in the election in November 1965, but accepted a government appointment on 6 March 1966 as Chairman of the Dominion Coal Board. He retired from government services in September 1972. In June 1973, he and his son John purchased the legal firm of Morley M. Bell in Summerside. After the death of J. W. MacNaught, John continued to practice law until his demise in November 1996. The MacNaught family occupied the property at 75 Spring Street, Summerside, from 1957 until 1997.