Wally Nesbitt
Encyclopedia
Wallace Bickford Nesbitt (7 August 1918 – 21 December 1973) was a Progressive Conservative
member of the Canadian House of Commons
. He was born in Woodstock, Ontario
and became a barrister and lawyer by career.
During World War II
, Nesbitt served with the Royal Canadian Navy between 1941 and 1945. After studies at Woodstock Collegiate, the University of Western Ontario
and Osgoode Hall Law School
, he formally became a lawyer in 1947, then in 1954 was appointed Queen's Counsel
.
He was first elected at Ontario's Oxford
riding in the 1953 general election
and was re-elected there for eight successive terms. He attended the 12th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN)
as the head of the Canadian delegation and in 1959 became first vice-president of that Assembly. Until 1968, Nesbitt continued to represent Canada at the UN.
After a heart attack
on 2 December 1973, Nesbitt was treated at Woodstock General Hospital where he died 19 days later, cutting short his political life during the 29th Canadian Parliament
.
Nesbitt's great-uncle, Edward Walter Nesbitt
, was also a member of Parliament for Oxford between 1911 and 1921.
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
member of 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...
. He was born in Woodstock, Ontario
Woodstock, Ontario
Woodstock is a city and the county seat of Oxford County in Southern Ontario, Canada. Woodstock is located 128 km southwest of Toronto, north of Highway 401 along the historic Thames River...
and became a barrister and lawyer by career.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Nesbitt served with the Royal Canadian Navy between 1941 and 1945. After studies at Woodstock Collegiate, the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
and Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
, he formally became a lawyer in 1947, then in 1954 was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
.
He was first elected at Ontario's Oxford
Oxford (electoral district)
Oxford is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since the 1935 election.It consists of the county of Oxford....
riding in the 1953 general election
Canadian federal election, 1953
The Canadian federal election of 1953 was held on August 10 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 22nd Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Louis St...
and was re-elected there for eight successive terms. He attended the 12th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN)
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
as the head of the Canadian delegation and in 1959 became first vice-president of that Assembly. Until 1968, Nesbitt continued to represent Canada at the UN.
After a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on 2 December 1973, Nesbitt was treated at Woodstock General Hospital where he died 19 days later, cutting short his political life during the 29th Canadian Parliament
29th Canadian Parliament
The 29th Canadian Parliament was in session from January 4, 1973 until May 9, 1974. The membership was set by the 1972 federal election on October 30, 1972, and it was dissolved prior to the 1974 election....
.
Nesbitt's great-uncle, Edward Walter Nesbitt
Edward Walter Nesbitt
Edward Walter Nesbitt was an insurance and real estate agent and political figure in Ontario, Canada. He represented Oxford North in the Canadian House of Commons from 1908 to 1917 as a Liberal and from 1917 to 1921 as a Unionist Party member.He was born in Holbrook, Canada West, the son of John W...
, was also a member of Parliament for Oxford between 1911 and 1921.