Gordon Fogo
Encyclopedia
James Gordon Fogo was a Canadian
lawyer and senator.
Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia
, the son of Adam Fogo and Alice Hanway, he studied law at Dalhousie University
and served in the Canadian Army in World War I. Fogo was called to the Nova Scotia bar in 1924 and practised law in Halifax. He married Helen Louise Fisher in 1927. Fogo was a vice-president and director for Algoma Steel
. While making a name for himself in corporate law, he was also active in the Liberal
Party, where he became a protégé of William Lyon Mackenzie King
. He was appointed co-chairman of the Third National Convention of the Liberal Party in 1948. Reporting this appointment, Time
magazine characterized him as “a reliable worker behind the scenes, whose political gift is to stop bootless quarreling and secure quiet settlements”. Fogo was summoned to the Canadian Senate
in 1949, and represented the senatorial division of Carleton
, Ontario. Impressed by his relative youth and energy a contemporary newspaper editorialized, "what the Senate needs is fewer old fogeys and more young Fogos!" Nevertheless, he died in office in La Malbaie, Quebec
just three years later, in 1952. Fogo was survived by his wife (b. 1900) and two children. His legacy is perpetuated by two awards at Dalhousie University, the J. Gordon Fogo Prize for Excellence in Commercial Law, and the J. Gordon Fogo Bursary, a need-based scholarship.
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...
lawyer and senator.
Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, the son of Adam Fogo and Alice Hanway, he studied law at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
and served in the Canadian Army in World War I. Fogo was called to the Nova Scotia bar in 1924 and practised law in Halifax. He married Helen Louise Fisher in 1927. Fogo was a vice-president and director for Algoma Steel
Algoma Steel
See also Algoma Essar Steel Algoma is an integrated primary steel producer located on the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Its products are sold in Canada and the United States as well as overseas. Algoma Steel was founded in 1902 by Francis Clergue, an American entrepreneur...
. While making a name for himself in corporate law, he was also active in the Liberal
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...
Party, where he became a protégé of William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
. He was appointed co-chairman of the Third National Convention of the Liberal Party in 1948. Reporting this appointment, Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine characterized him as “a reliable worker behind the scenes, whose political gift is to stop bootless quarreling and secure quiet settlements”. Fogo was summoned to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
in 1949, and represented the senatorial division of Carleton
Carleton (Ontario electoral district)
Carleton was a federal and provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1968, and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1867 to 1987...
, Ontario. Impressed by his relative youth and energy a contemporary newspaper editorialized, "what the Senate needs is fewer old fogeys and more young Fogos!" Nevertheless, he died in office in La Malbaie, Quebec
La Malbaie, Quebec
La Malbaie is a municipality in the Charlevoix-Est Regional County Municipality in the province of Quebec, Canada, situated on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River, at the mouth of the Malbaie River...
just three years later, in 1952. Fogo was survived by his wife (b. 1900) and two children. His legacy is perpetuated by two awards at Dalhousie University, the J. Gordon Fogo Prize for Excellence in Commercial Law, and the J. Gordon Fogo Bursary, a need-based scholarship.