Horatio Clarence Hocken
Encyclopedia
Horatio Clarence Hocken (October 12, 1857 – February 18, 1937) was a Canadian politician, Mayor of Toronto, social reformer and a founder of what became the Toronto Star
.
Born in Toronto
in what was pre-Confederation
Canada West, Hocken had a media career as a printer, publisher and journalist. After working as a typesetter at the Toronto Globe at which he led a strike, Hocken, in 1892, Hocken was a foremen in the print room of the Toronto News when the Typographical Union went on strike. He and 20 other strikers founded the Evening Star
as a strike paper with Hocken as the new paper's business manager. He subsequently left the Star and returned to the News where he became city editor. In 1905 he purchased the The Orange Sentinel, a weekly newspaper serving supporters of the Orange Order.
from 1907 until 1910 when he made his first unsuccessful bid for the mayor's office and again from 1911 until 1912. He is credited with approving the Bloor Viaduct. As mayor, Hocken supported opening city parks to public use rather than being restricted to the use of athletic societies arguing that parks are for "walking in, not for athletic sports". He built public baths, installed a sewage treatment plant and a filtration plant, and the extension of the sewer system. Hocken's term also saw the distribution of free milk to children living in slums and the establishment of a public health nursing program. His reforms saw the death rate from communicable disease drop from 114 per 100,000 to 27 per 100,000. Hocken also supported the creation of a public housing company that built houses and rented them for cost. The city, under his stewardship, also purchased an abattoir and cold storage facility to help keep small butchers from being driven out of business by "the great meat trust."
for the Unionist Party
at the Toronto West
riding in the 1917 federal election
. He was re-elected in Toronto West in the 1921 federal election
, this time under the Conservative Party
. When the riding boundaries were changed in 1924, he was re-elected in the Toronto West Centre
riding in the 1925
and 1926 federal elections
. He served in the 13th
to the 16th Canadian Parliament
s consecutively until he left federal politics in 1930.
Hocken was appointed a member of the Senate of Canada from 30 December 1933 and remained in that office until death.
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
.
Born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in what was pre-Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
Canada West, Hocken had a media career as a printer, publisher and journalist. After working as a typesetter at the Toronto Globe at which he led a strike, Hocken, in 1892, Hocken was a foremen in the print room of the Toronto News when the Typographical Union went on strike. He and 20 other strikers founded the Evening Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
as a strike paper with Hocken as the new paper's business manager. He subsequently left the Star and returned to the News where he became city editor. In 1905 he purchased the The Orange Sentinel, a weekly newspaper serving supporters of the Orange Order.
Local politics
From 1912 to 1914, Hocken was Mayor of Toronto after serving on the Toronto Board of ControlToronto Board of Control
Toronto Board of Control was a part of the municipal government of Toronto, Canada from 1904 until its abolition in 1969 and served as the executive committee of Toronto City Council. It consisted of four councillors elected city wide and was presided over by the mayor. Each voter could vote for up...
from 1907 until 1910 when he made his first unsuccessful bid for the mayor's office and again from 1911 until 1912. He is credited with approving the Bloor Viaduct. As mayor, Hocken supported opening city parks to public use rather than being restricted to the use of athletic societies arguing that parks are for "walking in, not for athletic sports". He built public baths, installed a sewage treatment plant and a filtration plant, and the extension of the sewer system. Hocken's term also saw the distribution of free milk to children living in slums and the establishment of a public health nursing program. His reforms saw the death rate from communicable disease drop from 114 per 100,000 to 27 per 100,000. Hocken also supported the creation of a public housing company that built houses and rented them for cost. The city, under his stewardship, also purchased an abattoir and cold storage facility to help keep small butchers from being driven out of business by "the great meat trust."
Federal politics
Hocken's career in federal politics began when he was elected to the Canadian House of CommonsCanadian 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...
for the Unionist Party
Unionist Party (Canada)
The Unionist Party was formed in 1917 by Members of Parliament in Canada who supported the "Union government" formed by Sir Robert Borden during the First World War....
at the Toronto West
Toronto West
Toronto West was a federal electoral district in the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1925...
riding in the 1917 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1917
The 1917 Canadian federal election was held on December 17, 1917, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 13th Parliament of Canada. Described by historian Michael Bliss as the "most bitter election in Canadian history", it was fought mainly over the issue of conscription...
. He was re-elected in Toronto West in the 1921 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1921
The Canadian federal election of 1921 was held on December 6, 1921 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 14th Parliament of Canada. The Union government that had governed Canada through the First World War was defeated, and replaced by a Liberal government under the young leader...
, this time under the Conservative Party
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...
. When the riding boundaries were changed in 1924, he was re-elected in the Toronto West Centre
Toronto West Centre
Toronto West Centre was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1925 to 1935. It was and located in the province of Ontario...
riding in the 1925
Canadian federal election, 1925
The Canadian federal election of 1925 was held on October 29 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 15th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's Liberal Party formed a minority government. This precipitated the "King-Byng Affair".The Liberals under...
and 1926 federal elections
Canadian federal election, 1926
The Canadian federal election of 1926 was held on September 14 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 16th Parliament of Canada. The election was called following an event known as the King-Byng Affair...
. He served in the 13th
13th Canadian Parliament
The 13th Canadian Parliament was in session from March 18, 1918 until October 4, 1921. The membership was set by the 1917 federal election on December 17, 1917, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1921 election.It was controlled by...
to the 16th Canadian Parliament
16th Canadian Parliament
The 16th Canadian Parliament was in session from December 9, 1926 until May 30, 1930. The membership was set by the 1926 federal election on September 14, 1926, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1930 election.It was controlled by a...
s consecutively until he left federal politics in 1930.
Hocken was appointed a member of the Senate of Canada from 30 December 1933 and remained in that office until death.
External links
- Parliament of Canada: Horatio Clarence Hocken, accessed 5 February 2006