James McLenaghen
Encyclopedia
James O. McLenaghen was a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1927 until his death, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of John Bracken
, Stuart Garson
and Douglas Campbell
.
McLenaghen was educated in Balderson until 1902, and then in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
. He later attained a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Manitoba University
, and worked as a barrister-of-law, after studying in the office of future Prime Minister
Arthur Meighen
.
McLenaghen became active in the Conservative Party of Manitoba
, and sought election to the provincial legislature for Kildonan and St. Andrews in the 1927 provincial election
. He was successful, defeating Liberal
W.H. Gibbs and a candidate aligned with the governing Progressive Party
. He was re-elected in the 1932 election
, defeating Gibbs (now a candidate of the merged "Liberal-Progressive" alliance) by 39 votes.
McLenaghen was returned by an increased majority in the 1936 provincial election
, the first in which the Conservative Party was led by Errick Willis
. Four years later, he helped to bring the Conservative Party into a governing alliance with the Liberal-Progressives, along with the smaller Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and Social Credit parties. All parties were given cabinet representation, and McLenaghen was appointed as Minister of Health and Public Welfare on November 4, 1942. The coalition's leader was Premier
John Bracken, leader of the Liberal-Progressive Party.
On May 3, 1941, McLenaghen was appointed as the province's Attorney General. He left the Health portfolio on February 11, 1944, but continued to serve as Attorney General of Manitoba until his death. On December 14, 1948, he was also given the title Minister under the Trade Practices Enquiry Act. He also served as Minister of Labour from February 5, 1944 until February 14, 1946.
After joining the coalition government, McLenaghen did not face electoral competition from Liberal-Progressive candidates. He was re-elected in 1941
, Manitoba general election, 1945
and 1949
over candidates of the CCF, though in 1945 he almost lost the coalition nomination to Frank Simmonds.
McLenaghen was known as a likeable figure, though essentially conservative on policy matters. Like other Attorneys-General in the coalition government, he refused to devote crown resources to prison reform during the 1940s. He was also an influential figure in the Conservative Party, and frequently defended the coalition against other Tories who saw it as detrimental to party interests. His death in 1950 deprived the pro-coalition forces in the party of their most powerful voice, and the Conservatives in fact left the coalition soon after.
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 served 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...
from 1927 until his death, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of John Bracken
John Bracken
John Bracken, PC was an agronomist, the 11th Premier of Manitoba and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ....
, Stuart Garson
Stuart Garson
Stuart Sinclair Garson, was a Canadian politician and lawyer. He served as the 12th Premier of Manitoba from 1943 to 1948, and later became a federal cabinet minister....
and Douglas Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell, OC was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as the 13th Premier of Manitoba from 1948 to 1958...
.
McLenaghen was educated in Balderson until 1902, and then in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
-Transportation:Portage la Prairie railway station is served by Via Rail with both The Canadian and Winnipeg – Churchill trains calling at the station....
. He later attained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Manitoba University
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...
, and worked as a barrister-of-law, after studying in the office of future Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
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...
.
McLenaghen became active in the Conservative Party of Manitoba
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:...
, and sought election to the provincial legislature for Kildonan and St. Andrews in the 1927 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1927
Manitoba's general election of 28 June 1927 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This was the first election in Manitoba history to elect members through a single transferable ballot in all constituencies...
. He was successful, defeating 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 :...
W.H. Gibbs and a candidate aligned with the governing Progressive Party
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...
. He was re-elected in the 1932 election
Manitoba general election, 1932
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1932 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This was the second election in Manitoba where the single transferable ballot was used in all electoral divisions...
, defeating Gibbs (now a candidate of the merged "Liberal-Progressive" alliance) by 39 votes.
McLenaghen was returned by an increased majority in the 1936 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1936
Manitoba's general election of July 27, 1936 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The was the second election in Manitoba after the formation of a Liberal-Progressive alliance in 1932...
, the first in which the Conservative Party was led by Errick Willis
Errick Willis
Errick French Willis was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as leader of the province's Conservative Party between 1936 and 1954, and was responsible for beginning and ending the party's alliance with the Liberal-Progressive Party...
. Four years later, he helped to bring the Conservative Party into a governing alliance with the Liberal-Progressives, along with the smaller Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and Social Credit parties. All parties were given cabinet representation, and McLenaghen was appointed as Minister of Health and Public Welfare on November 4, 1942. The coalition's leader was Premier
Premier of Manitoba
The Premier of Manitoba is the first minister for the Canadian province of Manitoba. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. Until the early 1970s, the title "Prime Minister of Manitoba" was used frequently. Afterwards, the word Premier, derived from the French...
John Bracken, leader of the Liberal-Progressive Party.
On May 3, 1941, McLenaghen was appointed as the province's Attorney General. He left the Health portfolio on February 11, 1944, but continued to serve as Attorney General of Manitoba until his death. On December 14, 1948, he was also given the title Minister under the Trade Practices Enquiry Act. He also served as Minister of Labour from February 5, 1944 until February 14, 1946.
After joining the coalition government, McLenaghen did not face electoral competition from Liberal-Progressive candidates. He was re-elected in 1941
Manitoba general election, 1941
Manitoba's general election of April 22, 1941 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held shortly after the formation of a coalition government in December 1940...
, Manitoba general election, 1945
Manitoba general election, 1945
Manitoba's general election of October 15, 1945 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The 1945 provincial election was extremely different from the previous election, which was held in 1941...
and 1949
Manitoba general election, 1949
Manitoba's general election of November 10, 1949 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election pitted the province's coalition government, made up of the Liberal-Progressive Party and the Progressive Conservative Party, against a variety of...
over candidates of the CCF, though in 1945 he almost lost the coalition nomination to Frank Simmonds.
McLenaghen was known as a likeable figure, though essentially conservative on policy matters. Like other Attorneys-General in the coalition government, he refused to devote crown resources to prison reform during the 1940s. He was also an influential figure in the Conservative Party, and frequently defended the coalition against other Tories who saw it as detrimental to party interests. His death in 1950 deprived the pro-coalition forces in the party of their most powerful voice, and the Conservatives in fact left the coalition soon after.