William George Weichel
Encyclopedia
William George "Billy" Weichel (July 20, 1870 – May 2, 1949) was an Ontario
merchant and political figure. He represented Waterloo North
in the Canadian House of Commons
from 1911 to 1917 as a Conservative
member and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1923 to 1929.
He was born in Elmira, Ontario
, the son of Michael Weicher, who came to Canada from Germany
, and Margaret Schmidt. Weichel was educated in Elmira and Berlin (later Kitchener
). He worked eight years as a clerk in his father's hardware store before becoming a salesman for a saw manufacturer in Galt. In 1896, Weichel opened a hardware store with other members of his family in Waterloo
, later becoming sole owner. Weichel was also director for several insurance companies. In 1898, he married Jessie Rose Kinsman. He defeated William Lyon Mackenzie King
to win a seat in the federal parliament in 1911. Weichel was defeated in a bid for reelection to the federal seat as a Unionist
canadidate in 1917. Weichel served as mayor of Waterloo from 1922 to 1923. He was unsuccessful in the provincial elections of 1929 and 1934. He died in Kitchener at the age of 78.
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....
merchant and political figure. He represented Waterloo North
Waterloo North
Waterloo North was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1968. It was located in the province of Ontario...
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...
from 1911 to 1917 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...
member and 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 1923 to 1929.
He was born in Elmira, Ontario
Elmira, Ontario
The town of Elmira in Ontario, Canada is the largest community within the Township of Woolwich in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and is located 15 km to the north of the city of Waterloo.-History:...
, the son of Michael Weicher, who came to Canada from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and Margaret Schmidt. Weichel was educated in Elmira and Berlin (later Kitchener
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
). He worked eight years as a clerk in his father's hardware store before becoming a salesman for a saw manufacturer in Galt. In 1896, Weichel opened a hardware store with other members of his family in Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
, later becoming sole owner. Weichel was also director for several insurance companies. In 1898, he married Jessie Rose Kinsman. He defeated William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
to win a seat in the federal parliament in 1911. Weichel was defeated in a bid for reelection to the federal seat as a Unionist
Unionist Party (Canada)
The Unionist Party was formed in 1917 by Members of Parliament in Canada who supported the "Union government" formed by Sir Robert Borden during the First World War....
canadidate in 1917. Weichel served as mayor of Waterloo from 1922 to 1923. He was unsuccessful in the provincial elections of 1929 and 1934. He died in Kitchener at the age of 78.