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James Fisher (Manitoba politician)
Encyclopedia
James Fisher was a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He may have served as leader of the parliamentary opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
for a brief period in the mid-1890s.
Born at Glenquaich in Perthshire
, Scotland
, Fisher moved to Canada West (now Ontario
) in his youth. He was educated at the University of Toronto
, and was a member of that body's Senate.
In July 1875, Fisher contested a federal by-election in Perth North
for the Liberals
, losing to Conservative
Andrew Monteith
by 20 votes. He was defeated in the same riding in the general election of 1878
.
Fisher subsequently moved to Winnipeg, where he practised law and was a member of the University of Manitoba
Council. In 1886, he ran for the provincial riding of Russell as a Liberal
, losing to Conservative Edward Leacock by eight votes. He was easily elected in his second attempt for the seat, in the Liberal landslide victory
of 1888.
Fisher soon lost confidence in the government of Thomas Greenway
, and crossed the floor
to the opposition. He was re-elected without opposition in 1892, and appears to have served as the de facto leader of the opposition from 1894 to 1896. He did not identify himself as a Conservative
, but sat among their ranks in parliament.
Fisher was re-elected in 1896, but did not contest the election of 1899. In 1897, while still serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly
(MLA), he served in a Hudson's Bay Expedition unit.
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 may have served as leader of the parliamentary opposition 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...
for a brief period in the mid-1890s.
Born at Glenquaich in Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, 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...
, Fisher moved to Canada West (now Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
) in his youth. He was educated at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, and was a member of that body's Senate.
In July 1875, Fisher contested a federal by-election in Perth North
Perth North
Perth North was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1935. It was located in the province of Ontario...
for the 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...
, losing to 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...
Andrew Monteith
Andrew Monteith
Andrew Monteith was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Perth North in the Parliament of Ontario from 1867 to 1874 and in the Canadian House of Commons as a Conservative member from 1874 to 1878....
by 20 votes. He was defeated in the same riding in the general election of 1878
Canadian federal election, 1878
The Canadian federal election of 1878 was held on September 17 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 4th Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the end of Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie's Liberal government after only one term in office. Canada suffered an economic depression...
.
Fisher subsequently moved to Winnipeg, where he practised law and was a member of 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...
Council. In 1886, he ran for the provincial riding of Russell as a Liberal
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 :...
, losing to Conservative Edward Leacock by eight votes. He was easily elected in his second attempt for the seat, in the Liberal landslide victory
Landslide victory
In politics, a landslide victory is the victory of a candidate or political party by an overwhelming margin in an election...
of 1888.
Fisher soon lost confidence in the government of Thomas Greenway
Thomas Greenway
For the American character actor , see Tom Greenway.Thomas Greenway was a politician, merchant and farmer. He served as the seventh Premier of Manitoba, Canada, from 1888 to 1900...
, and crossed the floor
Crossing the floor
In politics, crossing the floor has two meanings referring to a change of allegiance in a Westminster system parliament.The term originates from the British House of Commons, which is configured with the Government and Opposition facing each other on rows of benches...
to the opposition. He was re-elected without opposition in 1892, and appears to have served as the de facto leader of the opposition from 1894 to 1896. He did not identify himself as a Conservative
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:...
, but sat among their ranks in parliament.
Fisher was re-elected in 1896, but did not contest the election of 1899. In 1897, while still serving as a Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
(MLA), he served in a Hudson's Bay Expedition unit.