Theodore Arthur Burrows
Encyclopedia
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 as the tenth Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
The Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba is the viceregal representative in Manitoba of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
of the province from October 6, 1926 until his death.
Burrows was born in Ottawa, Canada West (now 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....
), where his grandfather had been a pioneer settler. He moved to Manitoba in 1875, and was subsequently educated at Manitoba College
Manitoba College
Manitoba College was a college that existed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from 1871 to 1967, when it became one of the University of Winnipeg's founding colleges. It was one of the first institutions of higher learning in the city of Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba...
. In 1877, Burrows became the first law student in Winnipeg history, working in the office of one Frederick Mackenzie. He entered the lumber business in 1879, and subsequently played a major role in developing the industry in Manitoba's northwest.
Burrows entered politics in 1892, winning election to the provincial legislature in the riding of Dauphin. Although he described himself as a Liberal-Conservative, he was nevertheless a supporter of 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 :...
Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
Thomas Greenway
Thomas Greenway
For the American character actor , see Tom Greenway.Thomas Greenway was a politician, merchant and farmer. He served as the seventh Premier of Manitoba, Canada, from 1888 to 1900...
. Burrows defeated his 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:...
opponent Glenlyon Campbell
Glenlyon Campbell
Glenlyon Archibald Campbell was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1903 to 1908, and in the Canadian House of Commons from 1908 to 1911. Campbell was a member of the Conservative Party of Canada.Campbell was born at Fort Pelly, in what was...
by 317 votes to 308.
Burrows defeated Campbell a second time in 1896, by 589 votes to 577. By this time, he was identifying himself as a Liberal. He was also (like Greenway) a Methodist, and was a strong supporter of Canada's growing prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
movement. In addition to his political career, he was also appointed a land commissioner of the Canadian Northern Railway
Canadian Northern Railway
The Canadian Northern Railway is a historic Canadian transcontinental railway. At its demise in 1923, when it was merged into the Canadian National Railway , the CNoR owned a main line between Quebec City and Vancouver via Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.-Manitoba beginnings:CNoR had its start in...
in 1896, holding the position until 1904 and overseeing increased settlement in the Dauphin region. Perhaps curiously, he was never appointed to Greenway's cabinet.
The Liberals lost the election of 1899, although Burrows actually increased his majority significantly -- defeating Conservative R. Hunt by 1203 votes to 779. It may be assumed that the new settlers brought by Burrows to the region were instrumental in his victory.
Burrows did not seek re-election in 1903, but campaigned for the federal 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...
the following year. Running as a Liberal
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...
in the federal riding of Dauphin, he was elected unopposed, and supported Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
in parliament for the next four years. He was upset by his old rival Glenlyon Campbell, 3206 votes to 2989, in the election of 1908
Canadian federal election, 1908
The Canadian federal election of 1908 was held on October 26 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 11th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier's Liberal Party of Canada was re-elected for a fourth consecutive term in government with a majority government...
, and did not re-enter political life thereafter.
In 1926, Burrows was appointed Lt. Governor of Manitoba (a position that was largely ceremonial by this time). A talented singer, he often displayed his baritone voice to visitors at Government House. He died in office, in 1929.
The north-end Winnipeg neighbourhood of Burrows is named after him.