Solomon Hart Green
Encyclopedia
Solomon Hart Green, also known as Solomon Frank (October 23, 1885 – April 13, 1969) was a Jewish politician
and rabbi
in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1910 to 1914, as a Liberal
, making him the first Jewish Canadian to serve in that legislature.
Green was born in Saint John
, New Brunswick
, and was educated at King's College
in Windsor
, Nova Scotia
. He received a law degree in 1906. Green then relocated to western Canada, and in 1907 became the first Jew admitted to the legal profession in Manitoba. He was a member of the firm Chapman and Green, and continued his practice in Winnipeg for several decades.
He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1910 election
, defeating incumbent Conservative
John F. Mitchell
by 620 votes in Winnipeg North. He won 27 of 35 polls in the constituency. The Conservatives won the election, and Green served as a member of the opposition for the next four years.
He was not a candidate in the 1914 election
. He attempted to return to the legislature in 1915
, but lost to Social Democrat
Richard Rigg by 231 votes.
Green's biographical entry in the 1914 Canadian Parliamentary Guide lists him as "apparently the first Hebrew to take a seat in any Legislature in Canada". This is incorrect: Ezekiel Hart, who was in fact related to him, was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
in 1807 and 1808, although he was expelled from his seat because he was a Jew. Henry Nathan, a federal Member of Parliament
from British Columbia
in the 1870s, was also Jewish.
Green remained an active member of the Liberal Party of Canada
after leaving the legislature, and organized meetings for Liberal candidates at Winnipeg's Torah Talmud Hall in the 1920s. He was president of the Winnipeg North
Liberal Association in 1930, and supported his party's decision not to field a candidate against Labor
incumbent Abraham Albert Heaps
in that year's federal election
. Green argued that a Liberal candidate could have split the anti-Conservative
vote, and allowed the Conservative candidate to be elected.
The Liberals nominated a candidate in Winnipeg North for the 1935 election
, and on this occasion Green campaigned against Heaps on the grounds that the latter was a socialist. Heaps won the election.
The University of New Brunswick
's Faculty of Law now offers Hart Green Scholarships as entrance awards, in his honour.
He occupied the pulpit at the Shaare Zedek Synagogue
from 1926 until 1947, following Rabbi Herbert J. Samuel.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
in Manitoba
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 1910 to 1914, as a 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 :...
, making him the first Jewish Canadian to serve in that legislature.
Green was born in Saint John
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, and was educated at King's College
University of King's College
The University of King's College is a post-secondary institution in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. King's is a small liberal arts university offering mainly undergraduate programs....
in Windsor
Windsor, Nova Scotia
Windsor is a town located in Hants County, Mainland Nova Scotia at the junction of the Avon and St. Croix Rivers. It is the largest community in western Hants County with a 2001 population of 3,779 and was at one time the shire town of the county. The region encompassing present day Windsor was...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. He received a law degree in 1906. Green then relocated to western Canada, and in 1907 became the first Jew admitted to the legal profession in Manitoba. He was a member of the firm Chapman and Green, and continued his practice in Winnipeg for several decades.
He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1910 election
Manitoba general election, 1910
Manitoba's general election of July 11, 1910 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The result was a fourth consecutive majority government for the Conservative Party of Manitoba, led by premier Rodmond Palen Roblin. Roblin's electoral machine won...
, defeating incumbent Conservative
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:...
John F. Mitchell
John F. Mitchell
John Fletcher Mitchell was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1908 to 1910, as a member of the Conservative Party.-Biography:...
by 620 votes in Winnipeg North. He won 27 of 35 polls in the constituency. The Conservatives won the election, and Green served as a member of the opposition for the next four years.
He was not a candidate in the 1914 election
Manitoba general election, 1914
Manitoba's general election of July 10, 1914 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The result was a fifth consecutive majority government for the Conservative Party, led by premier Rodmond P. Roblin...
. He attempted to return to the legislature in 1915
Manitoba general election, 1915
Manitoba's general election of August 6, 1915 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held only one year after the previous general election of 1914. In that election, the governing Conservatives of premier Rodmond P. Roblin were...
, but lost to Social Democrat
Social Democratic Party of Canada (in Manitoba)
When the Social Democratic Party of Canada broke away from the Socialist Party of Canada in 1911, many Winnipeg SPC members joined the new organization...
Richard Rigg by 231 votes.
Green's biographical entry in the 1914 Canadian Parliamentary Guide lists him as "apparently the first Hebrew to take a seat in any Legislature in Canada". This is incorrect: Ezekiel Hart, who was in fact related to him, was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada was the lower house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The legislative assembly was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791...
in 1807 and 1808, although he was expelled from his seat because he was a Jew. Henry Nathan, a federal 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,...
from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
in the 1870s, was also Jewish.
Green remained an active member of the Liberal Party of Canada
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...
after leaving the legislature, and organized meetings for Liberal candidates at Winnipeg's Torah Talmud Hall in the 1920s. He was president of the Winnipeg North
Winnipeg North
For information on the historical provincial constituency, see Winnipeg North .Winnipeg North is a federal electoral district that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1917...
Liberal Association in 1930, and supported his party's decision not to field a candidate against Labor
Independent Labour Party (in Manitoba) (II)
Prior to 1920, there were a number of groups in Winnipeg which called themselves the "Independent Labour Party". For information on these groups, see Independent Labour Party ....
incumbent Abraham Albert Heaps
Abraham Albert Heaps
Abraham Albert Heaps was a Canadian politician and labour leader.Born in Leeds, England, Heaps immigrated to Canada in 1911 and worked in Winnipeg as an upholsterer. He was one of the leaders of the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919 and was a Labor alderman on the Winnipeg City Council from 1917...
in that year's federal election
Canadian federal election, 1930
The Canadian federal election of 1930 was held on July 28, 1930 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 17th Parliament of Canada...
. Green argued that a Liberal candidate could have split the anti-Conservative
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...
vote, and allowed the Conservative candidate to be elected.
The Liberals nominated a candidate in Winnipeg North for the 1935 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...
, and on this occasion Green campaigned against Heaps on the grounds that the latter was a socialist. Heaps won the election.
The University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
's Faculty of Law now offers Hart Green Scholarships as entrance awards, in his honour.
He occupied the pulpit at the Shaare Zedek Synagogue
Shaare Zedek Synagogue, Winnipeg
Shaarey Zedek Synagogue is the oldest synagogue in Winnipeg, Canada. Formed in 1880, the congregation's first building was constructed by Philip Brown and several others in 1890. Charles Henry Wheeler designed the original Synagogue on King Street...
from 1926 until 1947, following Rabbi Herbert J. Samuel.