Thomas Laird Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Thomas Laird Kennedy (August 15, 1878 – February 13, 1959) was a politician
in Ontario
, Canada
and served briefly as the 15th Premier of Ontario
. He was first elected as the Conservative member for Peel
in the 1919 provincial election
. He had been a long time resident of Streetsville (now part of Mississauga),Ontario, where he was Master of River Park Masonic Lodge
in 1908 and 1909.
Kennedy was first appointed Minister of Agriculture in 1930 by Premier Howard Ferguson
and continued in the position under Premier George S. Henry until the Conservative government's defeat in the 1934 provincial election
. Kennedy was a casualty in the election losing his seat to the landslide that elected the government of Liberal
Mitchell Hepburn
. Kennedy returned to the legislature in the 1937 election
and returned to government when the newly renamed Progressive Conservatives won the 1943 election
.
The new premier, George Drew, returned Kennedy to the position of Minister of Agriculture he had held a decade previously. Drew moved to federal politics in 1948 after losing his own seat in the 1948 provincial election
which, nevertheless, re-elected the Tory government.
Kennedy became interim
Premier
of Ontario
and leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party in October 1948 following Drew's departure and remained so for seven months until the party could hold its April 27, 1949 leadership convention
which elected Leslie Frost
as the new party leader, who was thus appointed as Premier. Kennedy continued as Minister of Agriculture during this period.
Frost succeeded Kennedy as Premier on May 4, 1949, and kept Kennedy as Agriculture Minister until 1953, when he stepped down from Cabinet at the age of 75. He remained a member of the legislature until his death in 1959.
Thomas L. Kennedy Secondary School
in Mississauga, which first opened to students in 1953, was named in his honour. It is the oldest school of its kind in the city that is still in operation.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in 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....
, 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...
and served briefly as the 15th Premier of Ontario
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
. He was first elected as the Conservative member for Peel
Regional Municipality of Peel, Ontario
The Regional Municipality of Peel is a regional municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada. It consists of three municipalities to the west and northwest of Toronto: the cities of Brampton and Mississauga, and the town of Caledon. The entire region is part of the Greater Toronto Area and the inner...
in the 1919 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1919
The Ontario general election, 1919 was the 15th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on October 20, 1919, to elect the 111 Members of the 15th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ....
. He had been a long time resident of Streetsville (now part of Mississauga),Ontario, where he was Master of River Park Masonic Lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
in 1908 and 1909.
Kennedy was first appointed Minister of Agriculture in 1930 by Premier Howard Ferguson
Howard Ferguson
George Howard Ferguson, PC was a Conservative politician and the ninth Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1923 to 1930.-Background:He was the son of Charles Frederick Ferguson who served in the Canadian House of Commons...
and continued in the position under Premier George S. Henry until the Conservative government's defeat in the 1934 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1934
The Ontario general election, 1934 was the 19th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on June 19, 1934, to elect the 90 Members of the 19th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ....
. Kennedy was a casualty in the election losing his seat to the landslide that elected the government of Liberal
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
Mitchell Hepburn
Mitchell Hepburn
Mitchell Frederick Hepburn was the 11th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1934 to 1942. He was the youngest Premier in Ontario history, appointed at age 37....
. Kennedy returned to the legislature in the 1937 election
Ontario general election, 1937
The Ontario general election, 1937 was held on October 6, 1937, to elect the 90 Members of the 20th Legislative Assembly of Ontario . It was the 20th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada....
and returned to government when the newly renamed Progressive Conservatives won the 1943 election
Ontario general election, 1943
The Ontario general election of 1943 was held on August 4, 1943, to elect the 90 Members of the 21st Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
.
The new premier, George Drew, returned Kennedy to the position of Minister of Agriculture he had held a decade previously. Drew moved to federal politics in 1948 after losing his own seat in the 1948 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1948
The Ontario general election of 1948 was held on June 7, 1948, to elect the 90 members of the 23rd Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
which, nevertheless, re-elected the Tory government.
Kennedy became interim
Interim leader
An interim leader, in Canadian politics, is a party leader appointed by the party's legislative caucus or the party's executive to temporarily act as leader when a gap occurs between the resignation or death of a party leader and the election of a formal successor...
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"...
of 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....
and leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party in October 1948 following Drew's departure and remained so for seven months until the party could hold its April 27, 1949 leadership convention
Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership conventions
This page lists the results of leadership elections within the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario .Before 1920, leaders of the Conservative Party were usually chosen by caucus...
which elected Leslie Frost
Leslie Frost
Leslie Miscampbell Frost, was a politician in Ontario, Canada, who served as the 16th Premier from May 4, 1949 to November 8, 1961. Due to his lengthy tenure, he gained the nickname "Old Man Ontario".-Early years:...
as the new party leader, who was thus appointed as Premier. Kennedy continued as Minister of Agriculture during this period.
Frost succeeded Kennedy as Premier on May 4, 1949, and kept Kennedy as Agriculture Minister until 1953, when he stepped down from Cabinet at the age of 75. He remained a member of the legislature until his death in 1959.
Thomas L. Kennedy Secondary School
Thomas L. Kennedy Secondary School
Thomas Laird Kennedy Secondary School is a school located in Mississauga, Ontario which was erected in honour of Premier of Ontario Thomas Laird Kennedy. Kennedy had been a long time resident of Streetsville , where he was Master of the River Park Masonic Lodge. Thomas L...
in Mississauga, which first opened to students in 1953, was named in his honour. It is the oldest school of its kind in the city that is still in operation.