John A. Simpson
Encyclopedia
John Adrian Simpson was a Canadian politician and businessman. Born in Peel County
, Ontario
, he came west in 1890 and eventually settled in Innisfail
, where he opened a lumberyard. He served on Innisfail's first town council, and also in the legislative assemblies of the Northwest Territories and later Alberta
; in the last, he acted as deputy speaker
.
, Ontario
. He married Anna Proudfoot in 1879, before coming west to Calgary
in 1890. Shortly after, he moved to the Olds area, and in 1891 he settled in Innisfail
where he started a lumberyard the next year.
in the district of Red Deer. He defeated two candidates, including incumbent Francis Wilkins
, and was subsequently re-elected in the 1898
and 1902
elections, on the latter occasion in the new district of Innisfail
. He continued to serve in the legislature until his riding became part of the new province of Alberta
in 1905.
Simpson ran in Alberta's first provincial election
in Innisfail
as the Liberal
candidate, and was elected over Conservative
Sam Curry by a single vote—the narrowest margin of any race in the election. In the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
, Simpson served as deputy speaker
. During the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway scandal
, he remained loyal to the government of Premier
Alexander Cameron Rutherford
in the face of a rebellion from Liberal insurgents. There was some concern on the government side that the speaker, Charles W. Fisher
, would resign to support the insurgents; Simpson's elevation to speaker, a position which was expected to remain impartial, would rob the government of a crucial vote. After Rutherford's government fell, Simpson supported the successor government of Liberal Arthur Sifton, though its stance on the issue that had toppled Rutherford's government—the construction of the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway—was in many respects diametrically opposed to Rutherford's.
Though he was re-elected in the 1909 election
, in 1913
Simpson was defeated by Conservative
Fred W. Archer
. He did not re-enter political life, and died in 1916.
Peel County, Ontario
Peel County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1851 from a portion of York County. In 1973, Peel County became the Regional Municipality of Peel, as a result of the Ontario provincial government's regionalization of the rapidly developing counties...
, 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....
, he came west in 1890 and eventually settled in Innisfail
Innisfail, Alberta
Innisfail is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is located in the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor, south of Red Deer at the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 54....
, where he opened a lumberyard. He served on Innisfail's first town council, and also in the legislative assemblies of the Northwest Territories and later Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
; in the last, he acted as deputy speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
.
Early life
John Simpson was born in 1854 in Peel CountyPeel County, Ontario
Peel County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1851 from a portion of York County. In 1973, Peel County became the Regional Municipality of Peel, as a result of the Ontario provincial government's regionalization of the rapidly developing counties...
, 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....
. He married Anna Proudfoot in 1879, before coming west to Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
in 1890. Shortly after, he moved to the Olds area, and in 1891 he settled in Innisfail
Innisfail, Alberta
Innisfail is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is located in the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor, south of Red Deer at the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 54....
where he started a lumberyard the next year.
Political career
Besides being a member of Innisfail's first town council, Simpson sought election to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 1894 electionNorthwest Territories general election, 1894
The Northwest Territories general election of 1894 held 31 October 1894. This was the third general election in the history of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the writs were dropped on 3 October 1894...
in the district of Red Deer. He defeated two candidates, including incumbent Francis Wilkins
Francis Wilkins
Francis Edward Wilkins was a former politician in Northwest Territories, Canada.Francis moved with his family to a homestead near Red Deer in 1890....
, and was subsequently re-elected in the 1898
Northwest Territories general election, 1898
The Northwest Territories general election of 1898 took place on 4 November 1898. This was the fourth general election in the history of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories....
and 1902
Northwest Territories general election, 1902
The Northwest Territories general election of 1902, occurred on 21 May 1902 and was the fifth general election in the history of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. This was the last election held until 1951,...
elections, on the latter occasion in the new district of Innisfail
Innisfail (N.W.T. electoral district)
Innisfail was an electoral district in the Northwest Territories from 1902 to 1905.The district was named after the town of Innisfail, Alberta, after Alberta was created in 1905 the district was carried over and existed until 1993.-Election results 1902:...
. He continued to serve in the legislature until his riding became part of the new province of Alberta
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...
in 1905.
Simpson ran in Alberta's first provincial election
Alberta general election, 1905
The Alberta general election of 1905 was the first general election held in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 9 November 1905, to elect members of the Alberta legislature to the 1st Alberta Legislative Assembly, shortly after the province was created out of the Northwest Territories...
in Innisfail
Innisfail (provincial electoral district)
Innisfail is a former Alberta provincial electoral district that existed from 1905 to 1993.-1905 general election:-External links:*...
as the Liberal
Alberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
candidate, and was elected over Conservative
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
Sam Curry by a single vote—the narrowest margin of any race in the election. In the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
, Simpson served as deputy speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
. During the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway scandal
Alberta and Great Waterways Railway scandal
The Alberta and Great Waterways Railway Scandal was a political scandal in Alberta, Canada in 1910. It resulted in the resignation of the provincial government of Alexander Cameron Rutherford over allegations of conflict of interest in the government's involvement in the financing of the Alberta...
, he remained loyal to the government of Premier
Premier of Alberta
The Premier of Alberta is the first minister for the Canadian province of Alberta. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. The current Premier of Alberta is Alison Redford. She became Premier by winning the Progressive Conservative leadership elections on...
Alexander Cameron Rutherford
Alexander Cameron Rutherford
Alexander Cameron Rutherford was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the first Premier of Alberta from 1905 to 1910. Born in Ormond, Ontario, he studied and practised law in Ottawa before moving with his family to the Northwest Territories in 1895...
in the face of a rebellion from Liberal insurgents. There was some concern on the government side that the speaker, Charles W. Fisher
Charles W. Fisher
Charles Wellington Fisher was a Canadian politician who served as the first Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-Biography:...
, would resign to support the insurgents; Simpson's elevation to speaker, a position which was expected to remain impartial, would rob the government of a crucial vote. After Rutherford's government fell, Simpson supported the successor government of Liberal Arthur Sifton, though its stance on the issue that had toppled Rutherford's government—the construction of the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway—was in many respects diametrically opposed to Rutherford's.
Though he was re-elected in the 1909 election
Alberta general election, 1909
The Alberta general election was 1909 was the second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 22 March 1909 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, in 1913
Alberta general election, 1913
The Alberta general election of 1913 was the third general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. The writ was dropped on 25 March 1913 and election day was held 17 April 1913 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Elections in two northern districts took place on 30 July...
Simpson was defeated by Conservative
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
Fred W. Archer
Fred W. Archer
Frederick William Archer was a provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada.Archer first ran for a seat in the Alberta Legislature in the 1913 Alberta general election. He defeated Liberal incumbent John Simpson by 10 votes to pick up the riding for the Conservatives...
. He did not re-enter political life, and died in 1916.
Electoral record
| 1913 Alberta general election Alberta general election, 1913 The Alberta general election of 1913 was the third general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. The writ was dropped on 25 March 1913 and election day was held 17 April 1913 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Elections in two northern districts took place on 30 July... results (Innisfail Innisfail (provincial electoral district) Innisfail is a former Alberta provincial electoral district that existed from 1905 to 1993.-1905 general election:-External links:*... ) |
Turnout N.A. | |||
| Conservative | Fred W. Archer Fred W. Archer Frederick William Archer was a provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada.Archer first ran for a seat in the Alberta Legislature in the 1913 Alberta general election. He defeated Liberal incumbent John Simpson by 10 votes to pick up the riding for the Conservatives... |
535 | 50.42% |
Liberal Alberta Liberal Party The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time... |
John A. Simpson | 526 | 49.58% |
| 1909 Alberta general election Alberta general election, 1909 The Alberta general election was 1909 was the second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 22 March 1909 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... results (Innisfail Innisfail (provincial electoral district) Innisfail is a former Alberta provincial electoral district that existed from 1905 to 1993.-1905 general election:-External links:*... ) |
Turnout N.A. | |||
| Liberal Alberta Liberal Party The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time... |
John A. Simpson | 519 | 53.45% |
Conservative | G. W. West | 452 | 46.55% |
| 1905 Alberta general election Alberta general election, 1905 The Alberta general election of 1905 was the first general election held in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 9 November 1905, to elect members of the Alberta legislature to the 1st Alberta Legislative Assembly, shortly after the province was created out of the Northwest Territories... results (Innisfail Innisfail (provincial electoral district) Innisfail is a former Alberta provincial electoral district that existed from 1905 to 1993.-1905 general election:-External links:*... ) |
Turnout N.A. | |||
| Liberal Alberta Liberal Party The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time... |
John A. Simpson | 408 | 50.06% |
Conservative | Sam J. Curry | 407 | 49.94% |
| 1902 Northwest Territories general election Northwest Territories general election, 1902 The Northwest Territories general election of 1902, occurred on 21 May 1902 and was the fifth general election in the history of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. This was the last election held until 1951,... results (Innisfail Innisfail (N.W.T. electoral district) Innisfail was an electoral district in the Northwest Territories from 1902 to 1905.The district was named after the town of Innisfail, Alberta, after Alberta was created in 1905 the district was carried over and existed until 1993.-Election results 1902:... ) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout N.A. | |||
| John A. Simpson | 227 | 52.42% | ||
| John D. Lauder John D. Lauder Dr. John Drought Lauder was a Canadian territorial level politician, rancher, police officer civil servant and medical doctor. As a police officer for the North-West Mounted Police he saw active service during the North-West Rebellion... |
206 | 47.58% | ||
| 1898 Northwest Territories general election Northwest Territories general election, 1898 The Northwest Territories general election of 1898 took place on 4 November 1898. This was the fourth general election in the history of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories.... results (Red Deer) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout N.A. | |||
| John A. Simpson | 349 | 46.10% | ||
| George Wellington Greene | 253 | 33.42% | ||
| J. Speakman | 155 | 20.48% | ||
| 1894 Northwest Territories general election Northwest Territories general election, 1894 The Northwest Territories general election of 1894 held 31 October 1894. This was the third general election in the history of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the writs were dropped on 3 October 1894... results (Red Deer) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout N.A. | |||
| John A. Simpson | 282 | 37.55% | ||
| Leonard Gaetz | 257 | 34.22% | ||
| Francis Wilkins Francis Wilkins Francis Edward Wilkins was a former politician in Northwest Territories, Canada.Francis moved with his family to a homestead near Red Deer in 1890.... |
212 | 28.23% | ||