Thomas Simpson Sproule
Encyclopedia
Thomas Simpson Sproule was a Canadian
parliamentarian, Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
from 1911–1915, and a member of the Canadian Senate from 1915–1917.
, Canada West from County of Tyrone, Ireland
.
His parents moved to Grey County when he was young, and he attended public schools there before studying at University of Michigan and the University of Victoria. He left school for two years before returning to Victoria University, graduating in 1868 with a degree in medicine.
, where in addition to his medical practice, he also opened a drug store, bought a large cattle farm, and invested in local businesses such as a flour mill and lumber yard.
He turned to politics and succeeded the retiring William Kingston Flesher
as MP of Grey East
in the 1878 election
as a Conservative
MP
. He was subsequently re-elected eight times in succession.
In 1881, he married Mary Alice Flesher, daughter of the politician he had succeeded, and they had a daughter, Lillian.
, and rose to the position of "Master and Sovereign". In 1906, he became "President of the Imperial Grand Council of the World". The Order was noted for its anti-French and anti-Catholic
views, particularly in that period.
As a Conservative MP, he was a supporter of Prime Minister
Sir John A. Macdonald
, but his loyalty to Orangeism led him to differ with his party's leadership on issues of language and religion, particularly on the Manitoba Schools Question
. Sproule opposed any concession to Catholic Separate School
s or French language instruction.
Following the fall of the Conservative government in the 1896 election
, largely due to divisions over the school issue, he became a pronounced critic of the immigration policies of Sir Wilfrid Laurier
's government. Sproule opposed the admission to Canada of non-British migrants. He supported the abolition of French language instruction in Ontario
schools, and the implementation of Regulation 17
. Sproule also opposed the expansion of French language services by the federal government.
, the new Conservative Prime Minister, Robert Laird Borden, nominated Sproule to the position of Speaker of the House of Commons. Because Sproule had to lead the House in prayers in both English and French, he embarked on French lessons despite being a life-long opponent of the language.
During a thirty-six day filibuster
on the question of the government's naval bill, Sproule lost his patience after weeks of 24 hour sessions, and became the first Speaker ever to "name" a member of the House for disorderly conduct.
in 1915. He served for two years until his death in 1917.
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...
parliamentarian, Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Parliament of Canada and is elected at the beginning of each new parliament by fellow Members of Parliament...
from 1911–1915, and a member of the Canadian Senate from 1915–1917.
Early life and education
Sproule was born to James and Jane (née Mitchell) Sproule, farmers who had emigrated to King TownshipKing, Ontario
King is a township in York Region north of Toronto, within the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada.The rolling hills of the Oak Ridges Moraine are the most prominent visible geographical feature of King. The Holland Marsh, considered to be Ontario's "vegetable basket", straddles King Township...
, Canada West from County of Tyrone, Ireland
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...
.
His parents moved to Grey County when he was young, and he attended public schools there before studying at University of Michigan and the University of Victoria. He left school for two years before returning to Victoria University, graduating in 1868 with a degree in medicine.
Doctor, businessman and politician
After graduation, Sproule first practised medicine at Craighurst, Ontario before moving to Galesburg, Michigan. He moved back to Grey County, settling in Markdale, OntarioMarkdale, Ontario
Markdale is a community in the Municipality of Grey Highlands, in Grey County, Ontario, Canada.Markdale was first settled in 1846 and originally called East Glenelg, after a nearby township. In 1864, it was renamed Cornabus after the Islay, Scotland hometown of then-postmaster Donald MacDuffie...
, where in addition to his medical practice, he also opened a drug store, bought a large cattle farm, and invested in local businesses such as a flour mill and lumber yard.
He turned to politics and succeeded the retiring William Kingston Flesher
William Kingston Flesher
William Kingston Flesher was surveyor and settler of southwestern Ontario, a militia officer, businessman and political figure...
as MP of Grey East
Grey East
Grey East was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1872 to 1917. It was located in the province of Ontario...
in the 1878 election
Canadian federal election, 1878
The Canadian federal election of 1878 was held on September 17 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 4th Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the end of Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie's Liberal government after only one term in office. Canada suffered an economic depression...
as a 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...
MP
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,...
. He was subsequently re-elected eight times in succession.
In 1881, he married Mary Alice Flesher, daughter of the politician he had succeeded, and they had a daughter, Lillian.
Political views
Sproule was a staunch Protestant from an Irish Unionist background. He was a member of the Orange OrderOrange Institution
The Orange Institution is a Protestant fraternal organisation based mainly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, though it has lodges throughout the Commonwealth and United States. The Institution was founded in 1796 near the village of Loughgall in County Armagh, Ireland...
, and rose to the position of "Master and Sovereign". In 1906, he became "President of the Imperial Grand Council of the World". The Order was noted for its anti-French and anti-Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
views, particularly in that period.
As a Conservative MP, he was a supporter of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Sir John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
, but his loyalty to Orangeism led him to differ with his party's leadership on issues of language and religion, particularly on the Manitoba Schools Question
Manitoba Schools Question
The Manitoba Schools Question was a political crisis in the Canadian Province of Manitoba that occurred late in the 19th century, involving publicly funded separate schools for Roman Catholics and Protestants...
. Sproule opposed any concession to Catholic Separate School
Separate school
In Canada, separate school refers to a particular type of school that has constitutional status in three provinces and statutory status in three territories...
s or French language instruction.
Following the fall of the Conservative government in the 1896 election
Canadian federal election, 1896
The Canadian federal election of 1896 was held on June 23, 1896 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 8th Parliament of Canada. Though the Conservative Party won a plurality of the popular vote, the Liberal Party, led by Wilfrid Laurier, won the majority of seats to form the...
, largely due to divisions over the school issue, he became a pronounced critic of the immigration policies of Sir 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....
's government. Sproule opposed the admission to Canada of non-British migrants. He supported the abolition of French language instruction 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....
schools, and the implementation of Regulation 17
Regulation 17
Regulation 17 was a regulation of the Ontario Ministry of Education, issued in July 1912 by the Conservative government of premier Sir James P. Whitney. It restricted the use of French as a language of instruction to the first two years of schooling. It was amended in 1913, and it is that version...
. Sproule also opposed the expansion of French language services by the federal government.
Speaker of the House
Following the defeat of the Laurier government in the 1911 electionCanadian federal election, 1911
The Canadian federal election of 1911 was held on September 21 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Canada.-Summary:...
, the new Conservative Prime Minister, Robert Laird Borden, nominated Sproule to the position of Speaker of the House of Commons. Because Sproule had to lead the House in prayers in both English and French, he embarked on French lessons despite being a life-long opponent of the language.
During a thirty-six day filibuster
Filibuster
A filibuster is a type of parliamentary procedure. Specifically, it is the right of an individual to extend debate, allowing a lone member to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal...
on the question of the government's naval bill, Sproule lost his patience after weeks of 24 hour sessions, and became the first Speaker ever to "name" a member of the House for disorderly conduct.
Illness and death
Sproule was forced to retire from the Speakership due to ill heath, and was named to the Canadian SenateCanadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
in 1915. He served for two years until his death in 1917.