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Cornelius Gallagher (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
Cornelius Gallagher was a politician in Alberta
, Canada and a municipal councillor and the third mayor of Edmonton
.
and, as a young adult, joined his father's butchery. He and his father moved to Winnipeg
in 1877, where they established wholesale and retail meat distributor P. Gallagher and Son. In 1888, Cornelius moved to Battleford, Saskatchewan, from which he supplied meat to troops suppressing the North-West Rebellion
; he later supplied the North-West Mounted Police. The same year, he married Exilda Bourre; the couple would adopt two children. From 1889 to 1891 he was in Regina
.
He came to Edmonton in 1891 and founded the Gallagher-Hull meat company, which he operated until his 1911 retirement. He first sought public office in 1893
, when he was elected to Edmonton Town Council, placing sixth of nine candidates in an aldermanic race in which the top six candidates were elected. He was re-elected in 1894
, once again placing sixth of nine candidates. Once this term expired in 1896, Gallagher stayed out of politics for several months until mayor Herbert Charles Wilson
resigned over a dispute involving town funds. The council selected Gallagher as his replacement, making him the first mayor of Edmonton never to be elected to that position (Frederick John Mitchell
and Terry Cavanagh
would later join him in that distinction).
In the ensuing election
, Gallagher elected to run for alderman rather than seeking re-election, which remains the only time in the city's history that a sitting mayor has run for alderman. He was elected, placing fifth of nine candidates, but did not seek re-election in 1897
. In 1898
Gallagher ran for mayor, but was defeated by William S. Edmiston
. He stayed out of politics until 1901
, when he was elected to a two year term as alderman. He was defeated in his re-election bid in 1903
, placing fifth of nine candidates (the staggered two year aldermanic terms meant that only three of the council's six aldermen were elected each election). His last bid for office took place during the 1907 election
, when he placed eleventh of twelve candidates in the aldermanic race.
Cornelius Gallagher was a member of the Edmonton Board of Trade and was the first President of the Edmonton Exhibition Association. He was a member of the Conservative Party of Alberta
and the Roman Catholic Church
. He died in 1932.
Gallagher Park in Edmonton is named in his honour.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada and a municipal councillor and the third mayor of Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
.
Biography
Gallagher was born December 31, 1854 in Saint John, New BrunswickSaint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
and, as a young adult, joined his father's butchery. He and his father moved to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
in 1877, where they established wholesale and retail meat distributor P. Gallagher and Son. In 1888, Cornelius moved to Battleford, Saskatchewan, from which he supplied meat to troops suppressing the North-West Rebellion
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
; he later supplied the North-West Mounted Police. The same year, he married Exilda Bourre; the couple would adopt two children. From 1889 to 1891 he was in Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
.
He came to Edmonton in 1891 and founded the Gallagher-Hull meat company, which he operated until his 1911 retirement. He first sought public office in 1893
Edmonton municipal election, 1893
The 1893 municipal election was held January 3, 1893 to elect the town council and three trustees for each of the public and separate school divisions.-Mayor:-Aldermen:-References:...
, when he was elected to Edmonton Town Council, placing sixth of nine candidates in an aldermanic race in which the top six candidates were elected. He was re-elected in 1894
Edmonton municipal election, 1894
The 1894 Edmonton municipal election was held January 2, 1894 to elect the town council, consisting of a mayor and six aldermen, each elected for a one year term).-Mayor:-Aldermen:-References:*...
, once again placing sixth of nine candidates. Once this term expired in 1896, Gallagher stayed out of politics for several months until mayor Herbert Charles Wilson
Herbert Charles Wilson
Herbert Charles Wilson was a Canadian politician and physician. He served as mayor of the Town of Edmonton and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the North-West Territories....
resigned over a dispute involving town funds. The council selected Gallagher as his replacement, making him the first mayor of Edmonton never to be elected to that position (Frederick John Mitchell
Frederick John Mitchell
Frederick John Mitchell was a politician in Alberta, Canada, a mayor of Edmonton, and a candidate for election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-Early life:...
and Terry Cavanagh
Terry Cavanagh
Terence James Cavanagh is a Canadian politician, municipal councillor in Edmonton, Alberta, who served as mayor. He was Edmonton's first native-born mayor.-Early life:...
would later join him in that distinction).
In the ensuing election
Edmonton municipal election, December 1896
The second of two 1896 municipal elections was held December 14, 1896. This was the first election to take place on the second Monday of December instead of the second Monday in January...
, Gallagher elected to run for alderman rather than seeking re-election, which remains the only time in the city's history that a sitting mayor has run for alderman. He was elected, placing fifth of nine candidates, but did not seek re-election in 1897
Edmonton municipal election, 1897
The 1897 municipal election was held December 13, 1897. This was the last election to elect a full town council for a one year term, as the 1898 election was conducted under a staggered system...
. In 1898
Edmonton municipal election, 1898
The 1898 municipal election was held December 12, 1898. In previous elections, an entire town council had been elected at once for a one year term; 1898 marked the beginning of staggered aldermanic terms, such that half of the six aldermen would be elected each year to two year terms...
Gallagher ran for mayor, but was defeated by William S. Edmiston
William S. Edmiston
William Sommerville Edmiston was a politician in present day Alberta, Canada, and a mayor of Edmonton.-Biography:...
. He stayed out of politics until 1901
Edmonton municipal election, 1901
The 1901 municipal election was held December 9, 1901 for the purpose of electing a mayor and four aldermen to sit on the Edmonton Town Council, as well as five public school trustees and five separate school trustees....
, when he was elected to a two year term as alderman. He was defeated in his re-election bid in 1903
Edmonton municipal election, 1903
The 1903 municipal election was held December 14, 1903 for the purpose of electing a mayor and three aldermen to sit on the Edmonton Town Council, as well as five public school trustees and five separate school trustees...
, placing fifth of nine candidates (the staggered two year aldermanic terms meant that only three of the council's six aldermen were elected each election). His last bid for office took place during the 1907 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1907
The 1907 municipal election was held December 9, 1907 for the purpose of electing a mayor and five aldermen to sit on the Edmonton City Council, as well as five public school trustees and six separate school trustees...
, when he placed eleventh of twelve candidates in the aldermanic race.
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
and the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He died in 1932.
Gallagher Park in Edmonton is named in his honour.