David Luther Burgess
Encyclopedia
David Luther Burgess was a World War I
flying ace
who, in 1926, was the sole challenger to Liberal
Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King
in a by-election
held in Prince Albert
, Saskatchewan
.
Born in Kleinburg, Ontario
, Burgess moved to Saskatchewan and became a farmer. He enlisted in the Saskatchewan Regiment during World War I
and held the rank of lieutenant
. In 1917, he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps
as an observer/gunner with No 25 Squadron flying the DH-4 bomber from May to October 1917. In conjunction with his pilot Capt. James Fitz-Morris, the duo scored seven victories (4 destroyed, 3 'out of control') and was awarded the Military Cross
for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in aerial fighting and on photography".
Mackenzie King had suffered a personal defeat in the 1925 federal election
losing his riding of York North
in Ontario
and needed to win in a by-election in order to re-enter the Canadian House of Commons
. Prince Albert Liberal MP Charles McDonald
was persuaded to step aside in order to create a vacancy for King.
The Prince Albert by-election would normally have been a formality and the Conservative Party declined to enter a candidate as did the Progressives
. However, an acclamation was avoided when Burgess entered the contest with the encouragement of the previous Tory candidate John Diefenbaker
.
Burgess ran as an independent candidate and argued that Mackenzie King was appropriating the riding of Prince Albert and assuming the compliance of its residents. In an election address, he said:
Burgess was defeated in the February 15, 1926, by-election by a three-to-one margin.
Four years later, after the 1930 federal election
defeated Mackenzie King's government and brought the Conservatives to power, Burgess moved to Ottawa to take up a position as private secretary to the new Minister of Agriculture
, Robert Weir. He remained in Ottawa as a civil servant with the Department of Agriculture after the Conservatives were defeated in 1935 and retired from the position of chief of supplies of the department in 1957.
In 1956, he was elected Dominion president of the Canadian Legion and served in that position for four years.
He was a candidate for the city of Ottawa's Board of Control when he suffered a heart attack and died five days before the election.
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...
flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
who, in 1926, was the sole challenger to Liberal
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...
Prime Minister 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...
in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held in Prince Albert
Prince Albert (electoral district)
Prince Albert is a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1908 to 1988, and since 1997.-Geography:...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
.
Born in Kleinburg, Ontario
Kleinburg, Ontario
-External links:* * *...
, Burgess moved to Saskatchewan and became a farmer. He enlisted in the Saskatchewan Regiment 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...
and held the rank of lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. In 1917, he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
as an observer/gunner with No 25 Squadron flying the DH-4 bomber from May to October 1917. In conjunction with his pilot Capt. James Fitz-Morris, the duo scored seven victories (4 destroyed, 3 'out of control') and was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in aerial fighting and on photography".
Mackenzie King had suffered a personal defeat in the 1925 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1925
The Canadian federal election of 1925 was held on October 29 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 15th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's Liberal Party formed a minority government. This precipitated the "King-Byng Affair".The Liberals under...
losing his riding of York North
York North
York North was an electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from Confederation in 1867 until 2004. It is also an electoral district that was represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1867 to 2007...
in Ontario
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....
and needed to win in a by-election in order to re-enter 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...
. Prince Albert Liberal MP Charles McDonald
Charles McDonald (Canadian politician)
Charles M. McDonald was a Canadian politician who served in the Saskatchewan legislature and in the Parliament of Canada. He has the distinction of having served in both the Canadian House of Commons and the Canadian Senate for less than a year.McDonald was a pharmacist by profession. He was born...
was persuaded to step aside in order to create a vacancy for King.
The Prince Albert by-election would normally have been a formality and the Conservative Party declined to enter a candidate as did the Progressives
Progressive Party of Canada
The Progressive Party of Canada was a political party in Canada in the 1920s and 1930s. It was linked with the provincial United Farmers parties in several provinces and, in Manitoba, ran candidates and formed governments as the Progressive Party of Manitoba...
. However, an acclamation was avoided when Burgess entered the contest with the encouragement of the previous Tory candidate John Diefenbaker
John Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
.
Burgess ran as an independent candidate and argued that Mackenzie King was appropriating the riding of Prince Albert and assuming the compliance of its residents. In an election address, he said:
Burgess was defeated in the February 15, 1926, by-election by a three-to-one margin.
Four years later, after the 1930 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1930
The Canadian federal election of 1930 was held on July 28, 1930 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 17th Parliament of Canada...
defeated Mackenzie King's government and brought the Conservatives to power, Burgess moved to Ottawa to take up a position as private secretary to the new Minister of Agriculture
Minister of Agriculture (Canada)
The Minister of Agriculture is a Minister of the Crown in the Cabinet of Canada, who is responsible for overseeing several organizations including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Dairy Commission, Farm Credit Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, National Farm Products Council and...
, Robert Weir. He remained in Ottawa as a civil servant with the Department of Agriculture after the Conservatives were defeated in 1935 and retired from the position of chief of supplies of the department in 1957.
In 1956, he was elected Dominion president of the Canadian Legion and served in that position for four years.
He was a candidate for the city of Ottawa's Board of Control when he suffered a heart attack and died five days before the election.