Thomas Murray (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Murray was a businessman and political figure in the Ottawa Valley
. He represented Renfrew North
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1870 to 1871, from 1879 to 1882 and from 1883 to 1890 and Pontiac
in the Canadian House of Commons
as a Liberal
member in 1891 and 1892 and from 1900 to 1904.
He was born in Goulbourn Township
in 1836, the son of James Murray, an Irish
immigrant, and Elizabeth Burrows. He was a merchant in Ottawa
and then Pembroke
, trading in lumber and furs. He served on the town council for Pembroke and also served as reeve. He was elected to the 1st Parliament of Ontario
after the death of John Supple
; he was defeated in the election that followed in 1871 but elected again in 1879. He resigned his seat in the provincial parliament in 1882 to run unsuccessfully for a seat in the federal parliament; he was reelected in 1883. His younger brother William
represented Renfrew North in the House of Commons. In 1884, Thomas and William registered a claim on a nickel
deposit near Sudbury which became the Murray Mine
, the first nickel mine established in the area.
Murray was married twice: to Jane Copeland in 1855 and to Emma Alice Foran in 1901. He died in Pembroke at the age of 79.
Ottawa Valley
The Ottawa Valley is the valley along the boundary between Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec along the Ottawa River. The valley is the transition between the Saint Lawrence Lowlands and the Canadian Shield...
. He represented Renfrew North
Renfrew North
Renfrew North was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1979. It was located in the province of Ontario. It was created by the British North America Act of 1867...
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 1870 to 1871, from 1879 to 1882 and from 1883 to 1890 and Pontiac
Pontiac (electoral district)
Pontiac is a federal electoral district in south-western Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1949 and since 1968....
in 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...
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...
member in 1891 and 1892 and from 1900 to 1904.
He was born in Goulbourn Township
Goulbourn Township, Ontario
Goulbourn Township, Ontario was formed in 1818, roughly 20 km southwest of downtown Ottawa, with the first major settlement occurring in Richmond. Other communities in the township include Stittsville, Munster, and Ashton. Stittsville is the largest community in the township, owing in part to its...
in 1836, the son of James Murray, an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
immigrant, and Elizabeth Burrows. He was a merchant 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 then Pembroke
Pembroke, Ontario
Pembroke is a city in the province of Ontario, Canada, at the confluence of the Muskrat River and the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley...
, trading in lumber and furs. He served on the town council for Pembroke and also served as reeve. He was elected to the 1st Parliament of Ontario
1st Parliament of Ontario
The 1st Parliament of Ontario was in session from September 3, 1867 until February 25, 1871, just prior to the 1871 general election. This was the first session of the Legislature after Confederation succeeding the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada...
after the death of John Supple
John Supple
John Supple was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Renfrew North in the 1st Parliament of Ontario as a Conservative member from 1867 to 1869....
; he was defeated in the election that followed in 1871 but elected again in 1879. He resigned his seat in the provincial parliament in 1882 to run unsuccessfully for a seat in the federal parliament; he was reelected in 1883. His younger brother William
William Murray (Canadian politician)
William Murray was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Renfrew North in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal member from 1874 to 1875....
represented Renfrew North in the House of Commons. In 1884, Thomas and William registered a claim on a nickel
Nickel
Nickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile...
deposit near Sudbury which became the Murray Mine
Murray Mine
Murray Mine is a defunct nickel and copper mine in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. It was the site of the original ore discovery that led to the launch of mining operations in the Sudbury area....
, the first nickel mine established in the area.
Murray was married twice: to Jane Copeland in 1855 and to Emma Alice Foran in 1901. He died in Pembroke at the age of 79.