James Whitney
Encyclopedia
Sir James Pliny Whitney, KCMG
(October 2, 1843 – September 25, 1914) was a politician in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. Whitney was a lawyer in eastern Ontario, Conservative
member for Dundas
from 1888 to 1914, and the sixth Premier of Ontario
from 1905 to 1914.
in 1843 and attended Cornwall Grammar School before articling the law office of John Sandfield Macdonald
in the 1860s, but did not resume his legal studies until 1871. He was called to the bar in 1875.
government of George William Ross
.
Whitney's government laid the basis for Ontario's industrial development by creating the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, with Sir Adam Beck
as its chairman and driving force. His government also passed the Workmen's Compensation Act and enacted temperance
legislation. He also appeased the anti-Catholic
, anti-French-Canadian sentiments of supporters of the Orange Order
in his caucus (such as George Howard Ferguson) by passing Regulation 17
. This regulation banned the teaching of French in schools beyond the first three years of school. The measure inflamed French-Canadian opinion across Canada, particularly in Quebec
, and split the country as it entered World War I
.
.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(October 2, 1843 – September 25, 1914) was a politician in the Canadian
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...
province of 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....
. Whitney was a lawyer in eastern Ontario, Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
member for Dundas
Dundas County, Ontario
Dundas County is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario.Dundas was created in 1792 by the area's first settlers: German Loyalists who had fought with Sir John Johnson in the American Revolutionary War. The settlers, descendants of the Palatine immigrants to America in 1710, had immigrated to...
from 1888 to 1914, and the sixth Premier of Ontario
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
from 1905 to 1914.
Early life
Whitney was born in Williamsburgh TownshipDundas County, Ontario
Dundas County is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario.Dundas was created in 1792 by the area's first settlers: German Loyalists who had fought with Sir John Johnson in the American Revolutionary War. The settlers, descendants of the Palatine immigrants to America in 1710, had immigrated to...
in 1843 and attended Cornwall Grammar School before articling the law office of John Sandfield Macdonald
John Sandfield Macdonald
John Sandfield Macdonald, QC was the first Premier of the province of Ontario, one of the four founding provinces created at the confederation of Canada in 1867...
in the 1860s, but did not resume his legal studies until 1871. He was called to the bar in 1875.
Early political career
Whitney became leader of the party in 1896 taking it from a narrow, bigoted rump into a forward-looking party determined to build the province.Premier of Ontario
In the 1905 election, he led the Tories to victory for the first time in 33 years by defeating the LiberalOntario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
government of George William Ross
George William Ross
Sir George William Ross was an educator and politician in Ontario, Canada. He was the fifth Premier of Ontario from 1899 to 1905....
.
Adam Beck
Sir Adam Beck was a politician and hydroelectricity advocate who founded the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario.-Biography:...
as its chairman and driving force. His government also passed the Workmen's Compensation Act and enacted temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
legislation. He also appeased the anti-Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, anti-French-Canadian sentiments of supporters of the Orange Order
Orange Institution
The Orange Institution is a Protestant fraternal organisation based mainly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, though it has lodges throughout the Commonwealth and United States. The Institution was founded in 1796 near the village of Loughgall in County Armagh, Ireland...
in his caucus (such as George Howard Ferguson) by passing Regulation 17
Regulation 17
Regulation 17 was a regulation of the Ontario Ministry of Education, issued in July 1912 by the Conservative government of premier Sir James P. Whitney. It restricted the use of French as a language of instruction to the first two years of schooling. It was amended in 1913, and it is that version...
. This regulation banned the teaching of French in schools beyond the first three years of school. The measure inflamed French-Canadian opinion across Canada, particularly in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, and split the country as it entered World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Deaths
Whitney died in office shortly after winning the 1914 electionOntario general election, 1914
The Ontario general election, 1914 was the 14th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on June 29, 1914, to elect the 111 Members of the 14th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ....
.