Hugh Robson
Encyclopedia
Hugh Amos Robson was a politician and judge in Manitoba
. He briefly served as leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
in the 1920s.
, was called to the bar for the Northwest Territories
in 1892 and practised in the Northwest Territories, moving to Winnipeg
in 1899. Robson married Fannie Laidlaw in 1897. He was named to the Court of King's Bench in 1909 and then served as head of the Manitoba public utilities commission from 1911 to 1914.
The Manitoba Liberals were in government between 1915 and 1922, but lost much of their support to the United Farmers of Manitoba
(later called the Progressives) in the early 1920s. Despite Premier Tobias C. Norris's personal popularity, the Liberals were reduced to only eight seats in the province's 55-member legislature following the election of 1922.
Norris remained party leader until 1927, but stepped down shortly before that year's election. He was replaced by Robson, who seems to have been chosen because of his status as a "respected outsider", and because he was regarded (incorrectly) as favouring cooperation with the Progressives. He had no experience as a provincial politician, but was a leading figure in the province's legal system.
Robson led the Liberal ticket in Winnipeg for the province's 1927 election, and placed second on the city's multi-member ballot (Winnipeg elections were determined by a form of proportional representation
at the time). He was only able to elect one other Liberal in the city, however, and his party won only seven seats throughout the province. Robson stood down as leader in January 1930, and resigned his seat shortly thereafter. He then served as a judge in the Manitoba Court of Appeal from 1930 to 1943, later becoming a Chief Justice of Manitoba.
Robson died at the Winnipeg General Hospital at the age of 74.
Robson Hall at the University of Manitoba
is named in his honour.
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 briefly served as leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
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 :...
in the 1920s.
Career
The son of Robert Robson, he came to Canada with his family in 1882, studied law in ReginaRegina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, was called to the bar for the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
in 1892 and practised in the Northwest Territories, moving to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
in 1899. Robson married Fannie Laidlaw in 1897. He was named to the Court of King's Bench in 1909 and then served as head of the Manitoba public utilities commission from 1911 to 1914.
The Manitoba Liberals were in government between 1915 and 1922, but lost much of their support to 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...
(later called the Progressives) in the early 1920s. Despite Premier Tobias C. Norris's personal popularity, the Liberals were reduced to only eight seats in the province's 55-member legislature following the election of 1922.
Norris remained party leader until 1927, but stepped down shortly before that year's election. He was replaced by Robson, who seems to have been chosen because of his status as a "respected outsider", and because he was regarded (incorrectly) as favouring cooperation with the Progressives. He had no experience as a provincial politician, but was a leading figure in the province's legal system.
Robson led the Liberal ticket in Winnipeg for the province's 1927 election, and placed second on the city's multi-member ballot (Winnipeg elections were determined by a form of proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
at the time). He was only able to elect one other Liberal in the city, however, and his party won only seven seats throughout the province. Robson stood down as leader in January 1930, and resigned his seat shortly thereafter. He then served as a judge in the Manitoba Court of Appeal from 1930 to 1943, later becoming a Chief Justice of Manitoba.
Robson died at the Winnipeg General Hospital at the age of 74.
Robson Hall at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
is named in his honour.