Fawcett G. Taylor
Encyclopedia
Fawcett Gowler Taylor was a Manitoba
politician, and was the leader of that province's Conservative Party
from 1922 to 1933.
Taylor was born in Meadow Lea, Manitoba
. He worked as a barrister, and served as mayor of Portage La Prairie
from 1912 to 1915. In the provincial election of 1915
, he ran as a Conservative candidate in the Portage la Prairie constituency and was defeated.
Taylor resigned as mayor later in 1915 to enlist for service in the First World War. Already a captain in the 99th Manitoba Rangers, he was quickly promoted to Major and served in France with the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles from 1916 to 1918. On returning, he became President of the Army and Navy Veterans in Canada (Dominion Association).
Taylor sought the leadership of provincial Conservatives in 1919, but was defeated by Richard G. Willis. He was elected for Portage La Prairie in the provincial election of 1920
, and was chosen as party leader in a second attempt on April 5, 1922, defeating John Thomas Haig
.
The Manitoba Conservatives had governed the province from 1900 to 1915, but were in a weak position when Taylor became the party's leader. The scandals of the Roblin government had led to a catastrophic defeat in 1915, with the Conservatives winning only won five of 47 seats. They increased their total to seven in 1920, but were in danger of becoming marginalized by the rise of the United Farmers of Manitoba
and Labour
.
Taylor's first campaign as party leader was not particularly successful. The UFM swept the countryside in the 1922 campaign
, with Labour
and the Liberals
dominating Winnipeg. Taylor faced a strong challenge from Liberal cabinet minister Charles Duncan McPherson
in Portage La Prairie, winning by only 131 votes out of 2743 cast.
Subsequently, Taylor brought the party back to a more viable position. By now a Lieutenant Colonel
, Taylor brought the Conservatives back to 15 seats and official opposition status in the election of 1927
. Leading up to the 1932 election
, his party was regarded as having a real chance to form government.
This did not occur, however. The federal Liberals
were concerned about a Conservative victory in the province, and convinced their provincial affiliate
to form an alliance with the governing Progressives
(as the UFM government had renamed itself). The combined resources of these parties weakened the Conservative position. Taylor was also damaged by the unpopularity of Conservative
Prime Minister
Richard Bennett
. Taylor's own plan to redistribute land to the poor was criticized by many as ineffective.
The Conservatives won only 10 seats in the 1932 election. Taylor resigned the party leadership in April 1933, after being appointed a judge.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
politician, and was the leader of that province's Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
from 1922 to 1933.
Taylor was born in Meadow Lea, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. He worked as a barrister, and served as mayor of Portage La Prairie
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
-Transportation:Portage la Prairie railway station is served by Via Rail with both The Canadian and Winnipeg – Churchill trains calling at the station....
from 1912 to 1915. In the provincial election of 1915
Manitoba general election, 1915
Manitoba's general election of August 6, 1915 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held only one year after the previous general election of 1914. In that election, the governing Conservatives of premier Rodmond P. Roblin were...
, he ran as a Conservative candidate in the Portage la Prairie constituency and was defeated.
Taylor resigned as mayor later in 1915 to enlist for service in the First World War. Already a captain in the 99th Manitoba Rangers, he was quickly promoted to Major and served in France with the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles from 1916 to 1918. On returning, he became President of the Army and Navy Veterans in Canada (Dominion Association).
Taylor sought the leadership of provincial Conservatives in 1919, but was defeated by Richard G. Willis. He was elected for Portage La Prairie in the provincial election of 1920
Manitoba general election, 1920
Manitoba's general election of 29 June 1920 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.-Background:...
, and was chosen as party leader in a second attempt on April 5, 1922, defeating John Thomas Haig
John Thomas Haig
John Thomas Haig, PC was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as parliamentary leader of the Manitoba Conservative Party in 1921-22....
.
The Manitoba Conservatives had governed the province from 1900 to 1915, but were in a weak position when Taylor became the party's leader. The scandals of the Roblin government had led to a catastrophic defeat in 1915, with the Conservatives winning only won five of 47 seats. They increased their total to seven in 1920, but were in danger of becoming marginalized by the rise of the United Farmers of Manitoba
Progressive Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Party of Manitoba, Canada, was a political party that developed from the United Farmers of Manitoba, an agrarian movement that became politically active following World War I...
and Labour
Independent Labour Party (in Manitoba) (II)
Prior to 1920, there were a number of groups in Winnipeg which called themselves the "Independent Labour Party". For information on these groups, see Independent Labour Party ....
.
Taylor's first campaign as party leader was not particularly successful. The UFM swept the countryside in the 1922 campaign
Manitoba general election, 1922
Manitoba's general election of July 18, 1922 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.As in the previous election of 1920, the city of Winnipeg elected ten members by the single transferable ballot...
, with Labour
Independent Labour Party (in Manitoba) (II)
Prior to 1920, there were a number of groups in Winnipeg which called themselves the "Independent Labour Party". For information on these groups, see Independent Labour Party ....
and the Liberals
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
dominating Winnipeg. Taylor faced a strong challenge from Liberal cabinet minister Charles Duncan McPherson
Charles Duncan McPherson
Col. Charles Duncan McPherson was a soldier and politician from Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1910 to 1914, and again from 1915 to 1922. McPherson was a Liberal, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Tobias C. Norris.McPherson was born...
in Portage La Prairie, winning by only 131 votes out of 2743 cast.
Subsequently, Taylor brought the party back to a more viable position. By now a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, Taylor brought the Conservatives back to 15 seats and official opposition status in the election of 1927
Manitoba general election, 1927
Manitoba's general election of 28 June 1927 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This was the first election in Manitoba history to elect members through a single transferable ballot in all constituencies...
. Leading up to the 1932 election
Manitoba general election, 1932
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1932 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This was the second election in Manitoba where the single transferable ballot was used in all electoral divisions...
, his party was regarded as having a real chance to form government.
This did not occur, however. The federal Liberals
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
were concerned about a Conservative victory in the province, and convinced their provincial affiliate
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
to form an alliance with the governing Progressives
Progressive Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Party of Manitoba, Canada, was a political party that developed from the United Farmers of Manitoba, an agrarian movement that became politically active following World War I...
(as the UFM government had renamed itself). The combined resources of these parties weakened the Conservative position. Taylor was also damaged by the unpopularity of 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...
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...
Richard Bennett
R. B. Bennett
Richard Bedford Bennett, 1st Viscount Bennett, PC, KC was a Canadian lawyer, businessman, politician, and philanthropist. He served as the 11th Prime Minister of Canada from August 7, 1930, to October 23, 1935, during the worst of the Great Depression years...
. Taylor's own plan to redistribute land to the poor was criticized by many as ineffective.
The Conservatives won only 10 seats in the 1932 election. Taylor resigned the party leadership in April 1933, after being appointed a judge.