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Tom Monto

1894 Ontario election - the Patrons of Industry

Updated: Oct 26, 2020

The 1894 Ontario election was one of first occasions in Canada where a farmer or labour organization took a large number of seats up for election.


The group was the ironically named farmer-based Patrons of Industry.


Which ones elected that day were Patrons of industry is a bit murky from reference works consulted. To aid future researchers, I share the research i have done to name them.


The 1894 election according to Wikipedia, saw 45 Liberals elected; 23 Conservatives,

16 PIA (including 1 Cons-PIA and 12 Liberal-PIA), 9 Protestant Protective Association (including 6 Cons-PPA and 1 Liberal-PPA), and 1 Independent = 94 seats.


But 1897 Parliamentary Companion, p. 250-256) lists 91 MPPs.

This included: 15 Patrons of Industry (although a couple others have connections to the organized farmers movement), five Reformers and two Independents.


Here's a who's who of the left in Ontario's 1894 election :


Patrons of Industry

said to be 16 elected in 1894

(3 straight PIA, 1 Cons-PIA and 13 Liberal-PIA)


James Tucker West Wellington (re-elected in 1898)

William Shore East Middlesex

John Bennett Stormont

John Caven Prince Edward

Archibald Currie West Simcoe

William Dynes Dufferin

Thomas J.P. Gamey Grey, C.R.

Joseph Longford Haycock Frontenac

John Stevenson McDonald Centre Bruce

George Nelson Kidd Carleton (p. 247)

Alexander McLaren Hastings East

David Mcpherson Glengarry

David McNichol South Grey

John McNeil South Perth

Thomas Pardo West Kent Liberal/Patron (1897 Parl. Companion, p. 256)


As well

James Middleton East Hamilton Liberal (secretary of the Agricultural Society and president of the South Wentworth Reform Association)


Reformers

Robert Paton Centre Simcoe elected in 1890, re-elected 1894

George William Ross Reformer (also Prohibitionist) (MP 1872-1883 elected MPP 1883 (by-el?), (re-elected as MPP in 1886, 1890, 1894

James Conmer West Algoma (elected 1885, re-elected 1890, 1894)

William Andrew Charlton South Norfolk 1890, re-elected 1894

Edwin Carpenter North Norfolk


Independents

Peter McCallum East Lambton Independent

James Haggerty North Hastings




[I tried to publish this info. in the Talk section of the Wikipedia page "Patrons of Industry" but was denied that privilege.]


Thanks for reading.

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