James McCrie Douglas
Encyclopedia
James McCrie Douglas was a politician in Alberta
, Canada
, a mayor of Edmonton
, and a member of the Canadian House of Commons
.
, Ontario
, the son of Rev James Douglas, a Scottish Presbyterian minister and Margaret, nee Blyth. He was educated in Winnipeg
, and came to Strathcona, Alberta
in 1894, where he opened a mercantile business with his brother R. B. Douglas.
On November 1, 1894 he married Mary Cameron Bickerton.
, the recently elected Liberal
Member of Parliament
for Strathcona
, died. Douglas, running as a Liberal, was the only candidate in the ensuing by-election, and was acclaimed to the Canadian House of Commons
. He was re-elected as a Liberal in the 1911 election
.
In 1917, Prime Minister Robert Laird Borden introduced conscription
as a means of winning the First World War, and appealed to all MPs who supported this move to come together under the banner of the "Unionist Party
". Douglas was one of many MPs to leave Wilfrid Laurier
's Liberal caucus and join this new alliance party, and was re-elected as a government candidate in the 1917 election
. Once the war ended, he was one of a handful of former Liberals to join Arthur Meighen
's new "National Liberal and Conservative Party" (commonly known as the Conservative Party
). He was defeated running under this banner in the 1921 election
by Progressive
candidate Daniel Webster Warner
.
Douglas returned to municipal politics, running for Edmonton City Council
(Strathcona and Edmonton had merged in 1912) as an alderman in the 1923 election
. He was elected to a two year term, finishing fourth of fourteen candidates. Towards the end of this term he made a final foray into federal politics, running in the 1925 election
as a Conservative in Edmonton West
. He was defeated by Liberal Charles Stewart
.
Defeated again federally, this time for good, Douglas sought and won re-election as an alderman in Edmonton's 1925 election
, finishing first of eleven candidates. However, he resigned less than a year into his term to run for mayor in the 1926 election
, in which he finished fifth of six candidates. Thereafter, he stayed out of politics until 1929
, when he was elected mayor. He was acclaimed in 1930
to a second term, but was unseated in the 1931 election
by Daniel Kennedy Knott
.
Douglas took a five year hiatus from politics to serve as a stipendary magistrate in the Northwest Territories
. During this time, he was also appointed by the Alberta government to the Ewing Commission, struck to "Make enquiry into the condition of the Half-breed population of Alberta, keeping particularly in mind the health, education, relief and general welfare of such population".
Douglas returned to Edmonton to run for mayor in the 1936 election
, in which he finished a close second to Joseph Clarke
in a five person race. He left politics once again after this defeat, but returned to the position of alderman in the 1941 election
, finishing second of fourteen candidates. He was re-elected in 1943
(finishing first of twelve candidates), 1945
(first of eleven), and 1947
(third of thirteen) before retiring for good in 1949.
He endowed two academic scholarships at the University of Alberta
, one in his own name for science students and one in his wife's name for arts students.
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...
, 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...
, a mayor of Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, and a member of the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian 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...
.
Early life
Douglas was born February 5, 1867 in Middleville, Lanark CountyLanark County, Ontario
Lanark County is a county located in the Canadian province of Ontario. As of 2006, the population is 63,785. Its county seat is Perth.The county took its name from the town of Lanark in Scotland.-Geography:...
, 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....
, the son of Rev James Douglas, a Scottish Presbyterian minister and Margaret, nee Blyth. He was educated in 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...
, and came to Strathcona, Alberta
Strathcona, Alberta
Strathcona was a city in Alberta, Canada, located on the south of the North Saskatchewan River opposite of the City of Edmonton. It amalgamated with Edmonton on February 1, 1912....
in 1894, where he opened a mercantile business with his brother R. B. Douglas.
On November 1, 1894 he married Mary Cameron Bickerton.
Political career
James Douglas was elected as an alderman to the Strathcona city council. He entered federal politics in 1909 when Wilbert McIntyreWilbert McIntyre
Wilbert McIntyre was a politician and medical doctor from Alberta, Canada.Born in Rosedale, Ontario, Wilbert was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in a 1906 by-election in the Strathcona electoral district by-election on April 5, 1906...
, the recently elected 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...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Strathcona
Strathcona (electoral district)
Strathcona was a federal electoral district in the Northwest Territories and Alberta, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1925. When it was created, it was part of the Northwest Territories. In 1905, when Saskatchewan and Alberta became provinces, it was split...
, died. Douglas, running as a Liberal, was the only candidate in the ensuing by-election, and was acclaimed to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian 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...
. He was re-elected as a Liberal in the 1911 election
Canadian federal election, 1911
The Canadian federal election of 1911 was held on September 21 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Canada.-Summary:...
.
In 1917, Prime Minister Robert Laird Borden introduced conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
as a means of winning the First World War, and appealed to all MPs who supported this move to come together under the banner of 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....
". Douglas was one of many MPs to leave Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
's Liberal caucus and join this new alliance party, and was re-elected as a government candidate in the 1917 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...
. Once the war ended, he was one of a handful of former Liberals to join Arthur Meighen
Arthur Meighen
Arthur Meighen, PC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served two terms as the ninth Prime Minister of Canada: from July 10, 1920 to December 29, 1921; and from June 29 to September 25, 1926. He was the first Prime Minister born after Confederation, and the only one to represent a riding...
's new "National Liberal and Conservative Party" (commonly known as 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...
). He was defeated running under this banner in the 1921 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...
by Progressive
Progressive Party of Canada
The Progressive Party of Canada was a political party in Canada in the 1920s and 1930s. It was linked with the provincial United Farmers parties in several provinces and, in Manitoba, ran candidates and formed governments as the Progressive Party of Manitoba...
candidate Daniel Webster Warner
Daniel Webster Warner
Daniel Webster Warner was a farmer, rancher and Canadian federal politician.Warner first ran for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons in the 1917 Canadian federal election in the Battle River district. He ran in that election as a Laurier Liberal candidate and was defeated in a close race by...
.
Douglas returned to municipal politics, running for Edmonton City Council
Edmonton City Council
The Edmonton City Council is the governing body of the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors. Until 2010, Edmonton was divided in six wards with two councillors representing citizens in each ward...
(Strathcona and Edmonton had merged in 1912) as an alderman in the 1923 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1923
The 1923 municipal election was held December 10, 1923 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the public school board...
. He was elected to a two year term, finishing fourth of fourteen candidates. Towards the end of this term he made a final foray into federal politics, running in the 1925 election
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...
as a Conservative in Edmonton West
Edmonton West
Edmonton West was a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1988 and from 1997 to 2004.-Demographics:-History and geography:...
. He was defeated by Liberal Charles Stewart
Charles Stewart (Canadian politician)
Charles Stewart, PC was a Canadian politician who served as the third Premier of Alberta from 1917 until 1921. Born in Strabane, Ontario, in Wentworth County, Stewart was a farmer who moved west to Alberta after his farm was destroyed by a storm...
.
Defeated again federally, this time for good, Douglas sought and won re-election as an alderman in Edmonton's 1925 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1925
The 1925 municipal election was held December 14, 1925 to elect a mayor and seven aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards...
, finishing first of eleven candidates. However, he resigned less than a year into his term to run for mayor in the 1926 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1926
The 1926 municipal election was held December 13, 1926 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on the public school board...
, in which he finished fifth of six candidates. Thereafter, he stayed out of politics until 1929
Edmonton municipal election, 1929
The 1929 municipal election was held December 9, 1929 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the public school board...
, when he was elected mayor. He was acclaimed in 1930
Edmonton municipal election, 1930
The 1930 municipal election was held November 12, 1930 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the public school board ....
to a second term, but was unseated in the 1931 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1931
The 1931 municipal election was held November 11, 1931 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the public school board .There were ten aldermen on city council, but five of the positions were already filled: James Collisson, Charles Gibbs,...
by Daniel Kennedy Knott
Daniel Kennedy Knott
Daniel Kennedy Knott was a labour activist and politician in Alberta, Canada and a mayor of Edmonton.-Early life:Dan Knott was born in Collingwood, Ontario on July 1, 1879 to Hugh Knott and Margaret Wright...
.
Douglas took a five year hiatus from politics to serve as a stipendary magistrate in 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...
. During this time, he was also appointed by the Alberta government to the Ewing Commission, struck to "Make enquiry into the condition of the Half-breed population of Alberta, keeping particularly in mind the health, education, relief and general welfare of such population".
Douglas returned to Edmonton to run for mayor in the 1936 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1936
The 1936 municipal election was held November 12, 1936 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on the public school board . Voters also rejected a proposal to extend the mayor's term to two years...
, in which he finished a close second to Joseph Clarke
Joseph Clarke
Joseph Andrew Clarke was a Canadian politician and lawyer. He served twice as mayor of Edmonton, Alberta, was a candidate for election to the Canadian House of Commons and the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and was a member of the Yukon Territorial Council .-Early life:Clarke was born in...
in a five person race. He left politics once again after this defeat, but returned to the position of alderman in the 1941 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1941
The 1941 municipal election was held November 12, 1941 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the public school board .There were ten aldermen on city council, but five of the positions were already filled: James...
, finishing second of fourteen candidates. He was re-elected in 1943
Edmonton municipal election, 1943
The 1943 municipal election was held November 10, 1943 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the public school board .There were ten aldermen on city council, but five of the positions were already filled: Athelstan...
(finishing first of twelve candidates), 1945
Edmonton municipal election, 1945
The 1945 municipal election was held November 7, 1945 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and five trustees to sit on the public school board .There were ten aldermen on city council, but five of the positions were already filled: Sidney...
(first of eleven), and 1947
Edmonton municipal election, 1947
The 1947 municipal election was held November 5, 1947 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on the public school board . Voters also voted on two plebiscites, one of which approved two year mayoral terms...
(third of thirteen) before retiring for good in 1949.
Personal life, death, and legacy
James Douglas was a director of the Edmonton Exhibition Association, a member of the Kiwanis Club, a member of the Zoning Appeals Board, and a Presbyterian. He died of a seizure March 16, 1950.He endowed two academic scholarships at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
, one in his own name for science students and one in his wife's name for arts students.