Francis Black
Encyclopedia
Francis Mollison Black (July 17, 1870 – February 19, 1941) was a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1922 to 1927, and was a cabinet minister in John Bracken
's government from 1922 to 1925.
Black was born in Kilmarnock
, Scotland
, and was educated at Perth Academy
and at King's College London
. He moved to Canada in 1891, and worked as a financial promoter. Black served as president of the Calgary Board of Trade in 1916-17, and was a member of the Alberta
Public Utilities Commission in 1917. He later moved to Manitoba, and became treasurer of the United Grain Growers
association.
Black's entry into politics came about in an unusual manner, after the United Farmers of Manitoba (UFM) emerged as the province's largest political party in the 1922 provincial election
. The UFM won 25 seats out of 52, with elections deferred in three other northern seats. They were not an organized political party, however, and did not have a leader until John Bracken
was chosen by caucus after the election.
The UFM, which governed as the Progressive Party
, promoted the philosophy that Manitoba should be governed in an efficient, businesslike and non-partisan manner. Although Black had no political experience, and was not a candidate in the 1922 election, his successful management of the United Grain Growers recommended him to the new administration. He was chosen as Bracken's Provincial Treasurer and Minister of Telephones and Telegrams on August 8, 1922. On September 13, he was declared elected by acclamation for the sprawling northern constituency of Rupertsland, one of the province's deferred seats.
The historian John Kendle has described Black as "a dry, dour Scotsman renowned for his frugality and efficiency". He proved equally cautious and frugal as a finance minister, and played little role in parliamentary debates.
Black resigned his ministerial portfolios on January 12, 1925, and served as a government backbencher for the next two years. He did not seek re-election in 1927.
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...
, Canada
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...
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
from 1922 to 1927, and was a cabinet minister in John Bracken
John Bracken
John Bracken, PC was an agronomist, the 11th Premier of Manitoba and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ....
's government from 1922 to 1925.
Black was born in Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The River Irvine runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and was educated at Perth Academy
Perth Academy
Perth Academy is a state comprehensive secondary school in the Scottish town of Perth. It was founded in 1760. The standard week at Perth Academy for students is Monday to Friday from 8.55am to 3.30pm, although this may differ for students taking part in any extra curricula activities. The...
and at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
. He moved to Canada in 1891, and worked as a financial promoter. Black served as president of the Calgary Board of Trade in 1916-17, and was a member of the Alberta
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...
Public Utilities Commission in 1917. He later moved to Manitoba, and became treasurer of the United Grain Growers
United Grain Growers
United Grain Growers, or UGG, was a Canadian grain distributor. Founded in 1906 in Winnipeg, UGG was active in grain sales, crop inputs and livestock production services...
association.
Black's entry into politics came about in an unusual manner, after the United Farmers of Manitoba (UFM) emerged as the province's largest political party in the 1922 provincial election
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...
. The UFM won 25 seats out of 52, with elections deferred in three other northern seats. They were not an organized political party, however, and did not have a leader until John Bracken
John Bracken
John Bracken, PC was an agronomist, the 11th Premier of Manitoba and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ....
was chosen by caucus after the election.
The UFM, which governed as the Progressive Party
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...
, promoted the philosophy that Manitoba should be governed in an efficient, businesslike and non-partisan manner. Although Black had no political experience, and was not a candidate in the 1922 election, his successful management of the United Grain Growers recommended him to the new administration. He was chosen as Bracken's Provincial Treasurer and Minister of Telephones and Telegrams on August 8, 1922. On September 13, he was declared elected by acclamation for the sprawling northern constituency of Rupertsland, one of the province's deferred seats.
The historian John Kendle has described Black as "a dry, dour Scotsman renowned for his frugality and efficiency". He proved equally cautious and frugal as a finance minister, and played little role in parliamentary debates.
Black resigned his ministerial portfolios on January 12, 1925, and served as a government backbencher for the next two years. He did not seek re-election in 1927.