James Moffat Douglas

The Honourable
James Moffat Douglas
Member of Parliament
for Assiniboia East
In office
1896–1904
Preceded byWilliam Walter McDonald
Succeeded byJohn Gillanders Turriff
Canadian Senator
from Saskatchewan
In office
1906–1920
Appointed byWilfrid Laurier
Personal details
Born(1839-05-26)May 26, 1839
Linton, Scotland
DiedAugust 19, 1920(1920-08-19) (aged 81)
Tantallon, Saskatchewan, Canada
PartyLiberal (1896–1906)
Independent Liberal (1906–1920)

James Moffat Douglas (May 26, 1839 – August 19, 1920) was a farmer, missionary and politician from western Canada. He served as MP for a district in the NWT from 1896 to 1904 and as Canadian Senator from 1906 to 1920.

Background

The son of John and Euphemia (Moffat) Douglas, he was born and received his early education in Linton, Bankhead, Roxburghshire in Scotland, and came with his parents to settle on a small farm near Cambray, Ontario, in 1851.

Douglas was elected to the House of Commons of Canada for the district of Assiniboia East in the 1896 Federal Election. He defeated William McDonald, who had been acclaimed as the riding's Member of Parliament in the previous election. Douglas won under the Liberal Party of Canada banner, but also had strong backing from the local farmers' organization, the Patrons of Industry.[1]

In 1900, he was re-elected to represent the district. He retired in 1904.

Douglas was appointed to the Senate of Canada to represent the province of Saskatchewan on the advice of Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier on March 8, 1906. He served in the Canadian Senate affiliated as an Independent Liberal until his death on August 19, 1920.

Douglas built a homestead in the Qu'Appelle Valley in 1904. He named it Tantallon because he said the location reminded him of Tantallon Castle in Scotland. Tantallon takes its name from the homestead.

Electoral record

1900 Canadian federal election: Assiniboia East
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJames Moffat Douglas4,08151.64–7.06
ConservativeRichard Stuart Lake3,82248.36+7.06
Total valid votes 7,903100.00
Total rejected ballots unknown
Turnout 7,90376.59–0.28
Eligible voters 10,319
Liberal hold Swing –7.06
Source: Library of Parliament[2][3]
1904 Canadian federal election: Assiniboia East
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJohn Gillanders Turriff3,77055.39+3.75
ConservativeJ.R. Brigham3,03644.61–3.75
Total valid votes 6,806100.00
Total rejected ballots unknown
Turnout 6,80673.95–2.64
Eligible voters 9,204
Liberal hold Swing +3.75
Source: Library of Parliament[4][5]

References

  1. ↑ 1896 Parliamentary Guide
  2. ↑ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Assiniboia East, Northwest Territories (1900)". lop.parl.ca.
  3. ↑ LaMothe, H.G. (1901). Return of the Ninth General Election for the House of Commons of Canada, held on the 30th day of October, 1900, and the 7th day of November, 1900 (Report). Ottawa: King's Printer.
  4. ↑ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Assiniboia East, Northwest Territories (1904)". lop.parl.ca.
  5. ↑ LaMothe, H.G. (1905). Return of the Tenth General Election for the House of Commons of Canada, held on the 27th day of October, 1904, and the 3rd day of November, 1904, followed by a Return of the By elections held during the Ninth Parliament (Report). Ottawa: King's Printer.
  • Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan
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