Theodore F. Chamberlain
Encyclopedia
Theodore F. Chamberlain was an Ontario
physician, businessman and political figure. He represented Dundas
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1886 to 1887 as a Liberal member.
He was born in Smith's Mills, Upper Canada
(later Harlem, Ontario) in 1838, the son of Dr. Asher Augustus Chamberlain who was also the local postmaster. Chamberlain studied dentistry in Ottawa
and practiced in Leeds County
and then in New York
state. In 1858, he returned to Canada and studied medicine at Queen's College
. Chamberlain received his medical degree in 1862 and set up practice in Morrisburg. He also ran a drug store and served as the village's officer of health and as coroner for Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties
. He married Annettie Jane Parish in 1862. Chamberlain was reeve for Morrisburg from 1877 to 1881 and warden for the United Counties in 1879. He served as a lieutenant in the local militia. Chamberlain also was a master in the local masonic lodge and a supporter of temperance
.
In partnership with his wife's brother, he owned three cheese factories. Chamberlain was also a director of the Parry Sound Lumber Company, owned by John Classon Miller
, the husband of his sister Adelaide Augusta.
Chamberlain ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the provincial assembly in 1879 and for a federal seat in 1882. His election in 1886 was appealed and he lost the by-election that followed to James Pliny Whitney in 1888. In 1890, he was named inspector for prisons, hospitals and charities for Ontario, serving until 1904. He helped establish legislation which required each county to establish a poorhouse
rather than using the local jail to house those without funds. In 1904, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the House of Commons. From 1906 to 1908, he was federal health inspector for public works.
In 1909, Chamberlain returned to his medical practice at Morrisburg. He died of pneumonia
at Chaffeys Locks in 1927. His son Watson Parish also became a doctor and practised in Morrisburg.
The township of Chamberlain
in Timiskaming District
was named in his honour.
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....
physician, businessman and political figure. He represented Dundas
Dundas (electoral district)
Dundas was a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1925. It was created by the British North America Act of 1867.It consisted initially of Dundas County...
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
from 1886 to 1887 as a Liberal member.
He was born in Smith's Mills, Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
(later Harlem, Ontario) in 1838, the son of Dr. Asher Augustus Chamberlain who was also the local postmaster. Chamberlain studied dentistry in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and practiced in Leeds County
Leeds County, Ontario
Leeds County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.The county was created in 1792, and merged with Grenville County in 1850 to create Leeds and Grenville County....
and then in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state. In 1858, he returned to Canada and studied medicine at Queen's College
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
. Chamberlain received his medical degree in 1862 and set up practice in Morrisburg. He also ran a drug store and served as the village's officer of health and as coroner for Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties, Ontario
The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry is an upper tier county and census division in the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is Cornwall...
. He married Annettie Jane Parish in 1862. Chamberlain was reeve for Morrisburg from 1877 to 1881 and warden for the United Counties in 1879. He served as a lieutenant in the local militia. Chamberlain also was a master in the local masonic lodge and a supporter of 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...
.
In partnership with his wife's brother, he owned three cheese factories. Chamberlain was also a director of the Parry Sound Lumber Company, owned by John Classon Miller
John Classon Miller
John Classon Miller was an Ontario lumber merchant and political figure. He represented Muskoka and Parry Sound in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1875 to 1882 as a Liberal member....
, the husband of his sister Adelaide Augusta.
Chamberlain ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the provincial assembly in 1879 and for a federal seat in 1882. His election in 1886 was appealed and he lost the by-election that followed to James Pliny Whitney in 1888. In 1890, he was named inspector for prisons, hospitals and charities for Ontario, serving until 1904. He helped establish legislation which required each county to establish a poorhouse
Poorhouse
A poorhouse or workhouse was a government-run facility in the past for the support and housing of dependent or needy persons, typically run by a local government entity such as a county or municipality....
rather than using the local jail to house those without funds. In 1904, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the House of Commons. From 1906 to 1908, he was federal health inspector for public works.
In 1909, Chamberlain returned to his medical practice at Morrisburg. He died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at Chaffeys Locks in 1927. His son Watson Parish also became a doctor and practised in Morrisburg.
The township of Chamberlain
Chamberlain, Ontario
Chamberlain is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within the Timiskaming District.The rural township had a population of 322 in the Canada 2006 Census...
in Timiskaming District
Timiskaming District, Ontario
Timiskaming is a district and census division in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. The district was created in 1912 from parts of Algoma, Nipissing, and Sudbury districts. In 1921, Cochrane District was created from parts of this district and parts of Thunder Bay...
was named in his honour.