John Everett Lyle Streight
Encyclopedia
Colonel John Everett Lyle Streight (August 15, 1880 – June 2, 1955) was a Canadian lumber merchant, military officer and politician.
Streight's was born and kept a home in Islington, Ontario (now part of Toronto
) throughout his life. He joined the army at the age of 18, beginning a 46 year military career in which he was awarded the Military Cross
. He fought in the South African War at the dawn of the 20th century and also saw action in World War I
in which he was captured and became a prisoner of war
.
In the 1930s he served as aide-de-camp
to the Governor General of Canada
and, in 1932, served as aide-de-camp to King George V
.
Streight first ran for federal office in the 1921 federal election
as a Liberal but was defeated in his York West
by Henry Lumley Drayton
. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
on his second attempt, 14 years later, in the 1935 federal election
winning by 60 votes. In 1937, he was a member of the Canadian contingent attending the coronation
of King George VI
. That year, he turned down an invitation from Adolf Hitler
to speak to German youth on the need to establish an equivalent to the Canadian Legion. He retired from politics in 1940.
Streight's was born and kept a home in Islington, Ontario (now part of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
) throughout his life. He joined the army at the age of 18, beginning a 46 year military career in which he was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. He fought in the South African War at the dawn of the 20th century and also saw action in 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...
in which he was captured and became a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
.
In the 1930s he served as aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
and, in 1932, served as aide-de-camp to King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
.
Streight first ran for federal office in the 1921 federal 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...
as a Liberal but was defeated in his York West
York West
York West is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1904 and since 1917.Its population was 110,384 in 2001...
by Henry Lumley Drayton
Henry Lumley Drayton
Sir Henry Lumley Drayton, PC was a Canadian lawyer and politician.Born in Kingston, Ontario, the son of Philip Henry Drayton, who came to Canada with the 16th Rifles of England, and Margaret S. Covernton, Drayton was educated in the schools of England and Canada. He was called to the Ontario Bar...
. He was elected 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...
on his second attempt, 14 years later, in the 1935 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1935
The Canadian federal election of 1935 was held on October 14, 1935 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 18th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal Party of William Lyon Mackenzie King won a majority government, defeating Prime Minister R.B. Bennett's Conservative Party.The central...
winning by 60 votes. In 1937, he was a member of the Canadian contingent attending the coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
of King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
. That year, he turned down an invitation from Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
to speak to German youth on the need to establish an equivalent to the Canadian Legion. He retired from politics in 1940.