William McCreary
Encyclopedia
William Forsythe McCreary (5 May 1855 - 4 May 1904) was a Canadian politician serving as an alderman and the 16th Mayor of Winnipeg
and as a Member of the Canadian House of Commons
.
McCreary was a lawyer who moved to Manitoba in 1881 where he became a Winnipeg alderman in 1883. He held that city post again in 1884 and 1886 and after a nine-year gap became the city's Mayor for 1897. He also became Commissioner of Immigration that year, noted for his assistance with providing Doukhobor
s with food supplies in 1898 as they settled in Western Canada.
McCreary was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
under the Liberal party
in the 1900 federal election
at Selkirk electoral district
. He served most of his term in the 9th Canadian Parliament
until his sudden death at Ottawa's Russell House on 4 May 1904. A doctor and coroner examining his body concluded that McCreary died of heart disease early that morning. He indicated to some colleagues the previous evening that he was experiencing chest pains, following his attendance in Parliament.
The City of Winnipeg named McCreary Road in his honour. The rural municipality of McCreary, Manitoba
is also named after him.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
and as a 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...
.
McCreary was a lawyer who moved to Manitoba in 1881 where he became a Winnipeg alderman in 1883. He held that city post again in 1884 and 1886 and after a nine-year gap became the city's Mayor for 1897. He also became Commissioner of Immigration that year, noted for his assistance with providing Doukhobor
Doukhobor
The Doukhobors or Dukhobors , earlierDukhobortsy are a group of Russian origin.The Doukhobors were one of the sects - later defined as a religious philosophy, ethnic group, social movement, or simply a "way of life" - known generically as Spiritual Christianity. The origin of the Doukhobors is...
s with food supplies in 1898 as they settled in Western Canada.
McCreary was elected to 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...
under the Liberal party
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...
in the 1900 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1900
The Canadian federal election of 1900 was held on November 7 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 9th Parliament of Canada. As a result of the election, the Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier, was re-elected to a second majority government, defeating the...
at Selkirk electoral district
Selkirk (electoral district)
Selkirk was a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1871 to 1979.This riding was created in 1871 when the province of Manitoba was created....
. He served most of his term in the 9th Canadian Parliament
9th Canadian Parliament
The 9th Canadian Parliament was in session from February 6, 1901 until September 29, 1904. The membership was set by the 1900 federal election on November 7, 1900, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1904 election.It was controlled...
until his sudden death at Ottawa's Russell House on 4 May 1904. A doctor and coroner examining his body concluded that McCreary died of heart disease early that morning. He indicated to some colleagues the previous evening that he was experiencing chest pains, following his attendance in Parliament.
The City of Winnipeg named McCreary Road in his honour. The rural municipality of McCreary, Manitoba
McCreary, Manitoba (rural municipality)
McCreary is a rural municipality in the province of Manitoba in Western Canada. The separately administered village of McCreary lies just a little northwest of its centre.-External links:*...
is also named after him.