Earl Lawson
Encyclopedia
James Earl Lawson, PC
(October 21, 1891 – May 13, 1950) was a Canadian
politician and lawyer.
James Earl Lawson was twice a candidate for the leadership
of the Ontario Conservative Party, despite never being a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
, and once as a candidate for the federal Tory leadership.
His first run for the provincial leadership was in 1920 but was defeated by George Howard Ferguson.
He moved on to federal politics and was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons
as a Conservative
MP
in a 1928 by-election
representing York West
. Lawson was appointed to the cabinet of Prime Minister
R.B. Bennett in August 1935 as Minister of National Revenue. He lost this position when the Conservatives were defeated in the fall 1935 election
but was personally elected to the House of Commons, this time representing York South
.
Lawson was the "old guard" candidate at the 1938 Conservative leadership convention but placed last after many of his delegates decided to support M. A. Macpherson in an unsuccessful attempt to stop Robert James Manion
from becoming leader.
In 1938, several months following his failed attempt to win the federal leadership, he placed second to George Drew at the Ontario party's provincial leadership convention.
Lawson retired from the House of Commons in 1940, but remained active in the party. He was the mover of the successful 1942 motion to change the name of the Conservative Party to the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(October 21, 1891 – May 13, 1950) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician and lawyer.
James Earl Lawson was twice a candidate for the leadership
Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership conventions
This page lists the results of leadership elections within the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario .Before 1920, leaders of the Conservative Party were usually chosen by caucus...
of the Ontario Conservative Party, despite never being a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
, and once as a candidate for the federal Tory leadership.
His first run for the provincial leadership was in 1920 but was defeated by George Howard Ferguson.
He moved on to federal politics and was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as a Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in a 1928 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
representing York West
York West
York West is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1904 and since 1917.Its population was 110,384 in 2001...
. Lawson was appointed to the cabinet of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
R.B. Bennett in August 1935 as Minister of National Revenue. He lost this position when the Conservatives were defeated in the fall 1935 election
Canadian federal election, 1935
The Canadian federal election of 1935 was held on October 14, 1935 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 18th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal Party of William Lyon Mackenzie King won a majority government, defeating Prime Minister R.B. Bennett's Conservative Party.The central...
but was personally elected to the House of Commons, this time representing York South
York South
York South was an electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1979, and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1926 to 1999....
.
Lawson was the "old guard" candidate at the 1938 Conservative leadership convention but placed last after many of his delegates decided to support M. A. Macpherson in an unsuccessful attempt to stop Robert James Manion
Robert James Manion
Robert James Manion, PC, MC was leader of the Conservative Party of Canada from 1938 until 1940....
from becoming leader.
In 1938, several months following his failed attempt to win the federal leadership, he placed second to George Drew at the Ontario party's provincial leadership convention.
Lawson retired from the House of Commons in 1940, but remained active in the party. He was the mover of the successful 1942 motion to change the name of the Conservative Party to the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
.