William Thomas Henry
Encyclopedia
William Thomas Henry was a politician, real estate agent and businessman in Alberta
, Canada
. He served numerous years on Edmonton City Council
as an Alderman from 1900 to 1902 and later as mayor from 1914 to 1917. He also served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1924 to 1926 sitting with the Liberal caucus.
January 2, 1872. He moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1890 and entered the dry goods business. Three years later, he moved to Edmonton and opened W. T. Henry and Co., Clothing, Boots and Shoes which outfitted parties going to the Klondike Gold Rush
.
In 1903 Henry left the clothing business and went into real estate for three years before partnering with James Blowey
to form Blowey, Henry Ltd., a wholesale and retail furniture company.
but was defeated, finishing seventh of nine candidates.
Henry was more successful in his next second attempt to run for municipal council. He was elected to a two year term as alderman in the 1900 election
. He completed his term in 1902, but did not seek re-election.
The 1914 municipal election
would see Henry return to municipal politics. He stood for Mayor and was elected handily defeating Joseph Adair
in a landslide.. Henry was returned by acclamation to mayoralty in the 1915 election
.
The election held in 1916
would be contested. Henry easily defeated future mayor Joseph Clarke
with another landslide majority. While mayor, Henry helped arrange for the acquisition of weapons by the Edmonton branch of the Legion of Frontiersmen
for home defense during World War I
, after his request to the army was turned down.
Mayor Henry did not seek re-election in the 1917 election
, and turned his attention to provincial politics.
candidate in the 1917 Alberta general election
. He ran in the riding of West Edmonton but was defeated by Conservative
incumbent Albert Ewing
in a hotly contested two way race.
Henry ran for his second time in a by-election held on in the Edmonton
electoral district caused by John Boyle
's appointment as a judge. Two years later he sought re-election in the 1926 election
, but finished fifteenth of twenty-three candidates, he did not return to public office.
, the Edmonton Board of Trade, the Methodist Church
, and the Alberta College's first board. He played and refereed hockey. He was married to Ada C. Battrick, with whom he had four children.
Henry died September 11, 1952. Henry Avenue in Edmonton is named in his honour.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
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...
. He served numerous years on Edmonton City Council
Edmonton City Council
The Edmonton City Council is the governing body of the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors. Until 2010, Edmonton was divided in six wards with two councillors representing citizens in each ward...
as an Alderman from 1900 to 1902 and later as mayor from 1914 to 1917. He also served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
from 1924 to 1926 sitting with the Liberal caucus.
Early life
Henry was born in Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
January 2, 1872. He moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1890 and entered the dry goods business. Three years later, he moved to Edmonton and opened W. T. Henry and Co., Clothing, Boots and Shoes which outfitted parties going to the Klondike Gold Rush
Klondike Gold Rush
The Klondike Gold Rush, also called the Yukon Gold Rush, the Alaska Gold Rush and the Last Great Gold Rush, was an attempt by an estimated 100,000 people to travel to the Klondike region the Yukon in north-western Canada between 1897 and 1899 in the hope of successfully prospecting for gold...
.
In 1903 Henry left the clothing business and went into real estate for three years before partnering with James Blowey
James Blowey
James Thomas Blowey was a politician and municipal councillor in Edmonton, Alberta.-Biography:Blowey was born in 1853 in England. When he was a child, his family immigrated to Canada and settled in Ontario. In 1878, Blowey moved to Old Nelson, Manitoba, and relocated to Edmonton in 1893.In...
to form Blowey, Henry Ltd., a wholesale and retail furniture company.
Municipal
Henry sought election to the Edmonton Town Council as an alderman in 1896Edmonton municipal election, December 1896
The second of two 1896 municipal elections was held December 14, 1896. This was the first election to take place on the second Monday of December instead of the second Monday in January...
but was defeated, finishing seventh of nine candidates.
Henry was more successful in his next second attempt to run for municipal council. He was elected to a two year term as alderman in the 1900 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1900
The 1900 municipal election was held December 10, 1900 for the purpose of electing a mayor and three aldermen to sit on the Edmonton Town Council, as well as five public school trustees and four separate school trustees....
. He completed his term in 1902, but did not seek re-election.
The 1914 municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1914
The 1914 municipal election was held December 14, 1914 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and three trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards....
would see Henry return to municipal politics. He stood for Mayor and was elected handily defeating Joseph Adair
Joseph Adair
Joseph Woods Adair was a politician in Alberta, Canada, a municipal councillor in Edmonton, and a candidate for election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-Biography:...
in a landslide.. Henry was returned by acclamation to mayoralty in the 1915 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1915
The 1915 municipal election was held December 13, 1915 to elect a mayor and five aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards....
.
The election held in 1916
Edmonton municipal election, 1916
The 1916 municipal election was held December 11, 1916 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, three trustees to sit on the public school board, and four trustees to sit on the separate school board....
would be contested. Henry easily defeated future mayor Joseph Clarke
Joseph Clarke
Joseph Andrew Clarke was a Canadian politician and lawyer. He served twice as mayor of Edmonton, Alberta, was a candidate for election to the Canadian House of Commons and the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and was a member of the Yukon Territorial Council .-Early life:Clarke was born in...
with another landslide majority. While mayor, Henry helped arrange for the acquisition of weapons by the Edmonton branch of the Legion of Frontiersmen
Legion of Frontiersmen
The Legion of Frontiersmen is a paramilitary group formed in Britain in 1905 by Roger Pocock, a former Constable with the North-West Mounted Police and Boer War veteran, with its roots firmly set in another era, to bolster the defensive capacity of the British Empire...
for home defense during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, after his request to the army was turned down.
Mayor Henry did not seek re-election in the 1917 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1917
The 1917 municipal election was held December 10, 1917, to elect a mayor and seven aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards...
, and turned his attention to provincial politics.
Provincial
Henry ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature, seeking election as a LiberalAlberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
candidate in the 1917 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1917
The Alberta general election of 1917 was the fourth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada, held on 7 June 1917 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He ran in the riding of West Edmonton but was defeated by Conservative
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
incumbent Albert Ewing
Albert Ewing
Albert Freeman Ewing was a provincial politician and judge from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 to 1921 sitting with the Conservative caucus in opposition...
in a hotly contested two way race.
Henry ran for his second time in a by-election held on in the Edmonton
Edmonton (provincial electoral district)
Edmonton provincial electoral district existed in two incarnations from 1905 - 1909 and again from 1921 - 1955. The district was created when Alberta first became a province....
electoral district caused by John Boyle
John R. Boyle
John Robert Boyle was a Canadian politician and jurist who served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, a cabinet minister in the Government of Alberta, and a judge on the Supreme Court of Alberta. Born in Ontario, he came west and eventually settled in Edmonton, where he practiced...
's appointment as a judge. Two years later he sought re-election in the 1926 election
Alberta general election, 1926
The Alberta general election of 1926 was the sixth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 28, 1926 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The writs of election were issued on May 10, 1926 allowing for an election period of 40 days.After Herbert...
, but finished fifteenth of twenty-three candidates, he did not return to public office.
Late life
Henry took his company Henry Ltd.'s out of the retail furniture business (in favour of wholesaling), Henry co-founded Henry, Graham and Reid in 1931. He also served as chairman of the Edmonton Hospital Board, and was a member of the Masonic OrderFreemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, the Edmonton Board of Trade, the Methodist Church
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
, and the Alberta College's first board. He played and refereed hockey. He was married to Ada C. Battrick, with whom he had four children.
Henry died September 11, 1952. Henry Avenue in Edmonton is named in his honour.
External links
- Legislative Assembly of Alberta Members Listing
- Edmonton Public Library Biography of William Thomas Henry
- City of Edmonton biography of William Thomas Henry
- Report to the Edmonton City Council Executive Committee including a list of aldermen who have been honoured in the names of Edmonton's features
- A History of rifle smuggling by the Legion of Frontiersmen during the First World War
- History of hockey referees in Edmonton from 1893 until 1907
- History of Alberta College