Douglas Cunnington
Encyclopedia
Colonel Douglas George Leopold Cunnington (born: April 20, 1885 Bridgnorth
, Shropshire
, England
- died: May 9, 1973) was a farmer, advertising agent, insurance salesman, soldier and a politician at the federal and municipal levels in Canada.
, he moved to Canada in 1910 settling in British Columbia
, a year later he moved east to the Calgary
region and setup a dairy farm.
in 1915 during World War I
. He rose through the ranks to become a Colonel. He was shot and believed killed in action at Battle of Amiens. He was instead taken prisoner, and his wounds were treated by the Germans. He remained a Prisoner of War until the cessation of hostilities. (In a curious incident that received attention in the press, the German troops who took him prisoner left behind some of his effects. These were subsequently found, and identified, by Canadian troops who happened upon the scene. Presuming the colonel to be dead, the items were interred under a marker inscribed with his name, and a photograph taken of the grave was forwarded to Cunnington's wife. Thus, the Cunnington family possessed a photograph of what was believed to be Col. Cunnington's grave several decades before his actual death.) After being released by the Germans in 1919 Cunnington got a job as an advertising agent with the Calgary Herald
. He left that position in 1926 to establish an insurance business.
Cunnington ran for the Canadian House of Commons
in the Calgary West
electoral district in a by-election held on January 28, 1939. He would replace former Prime Minister Richard Bennett
as the representative for that district, by acclaimation as the Liberal candidate withdrew. After his acclimation Cunnington moved his family to Ottawa, Ontario he took his seat in the Canadian House of Commons
on January 25, 1940 the same day that parliament was dissolved.
Cunnington would return to Calgary to contest the election be defeated by Manley Edwards
a candidate from the Liberals
in the 1940 Canadian federal election
. In that election Cunnington ran under the National Government banner. He would not return to federal politics.
Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley. It is split into Low Town and High Town, named on account of their elevations relative to the River Severn, which separates the upper town on the right bank from the lower on the left...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
- died: May 9, 1973) was a farmer, advertising agent, insurance salesman, soldier and a politician at the federal and municipal levels in Canada.
Early life
Cunnington for a time lived in British GuianaBritish Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
, he moved to Canada in 1910 settling in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, a year later he moved east to the Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
region and setup a dairy farm.
Military career
Cunnington joined the Canadian ForcesCanadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
in 1915 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...
. He rose through the ranks to become a Colonel. He was shot and believed killed in action at Battle of Amiens. He was instead taken prisoner, and his wounds were treated by the Germans. He remained a Prisoner of War until the cessation of hostilities. (In a curious incident that received attention in the press, the German troops who took him prisoner left behind some of his effects. These were subsequently found, and identified, by Canadian troops who happened upon the scene. Presuming the colonel to be dead, the items were interred under a marker inscribed with his name, and a photograph taken of the grave was forwarded to Cunnington's wife. Thus, the Cunnington family possessed a photograph of what was believed to be Col. Cunnington's grave several decades before his actual death.) After being released by the Germans in 1919 Cunnington got a job as an advertising agent with the Calgary Herald
Calgary Herald
The Calgary Herald is a daily newspaper published in the Canadian city of Calgary, Alberta.- History :The paper was first published on August 31, 1883 by Andrew Armour and Thomas Braden as The Calgary Herald, Mining and Ranche Advocate and General Advertiser. It started as a weekly paper with only...
. He left that position in 1926 to establish an insurance business.
Political career
Cunnington was elected to Calgary City Council for the first time in 1935 he served as an Alderman until 1939 when he made the jump to federal politics.Cunnington ran for 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...
in the Calgary West
Calgary West
Calgary West is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1953, and since 1979. It is located in the western part of the City of Calgary....
electoral district in a by-election held on January 28, 1939. He would replace former Prime Minister Richard Bennett
R. B. Bennett
Richard Bedford Bennett, 1st Viscount Bennett, PC, KC was a Canadian lawyer, businessman, politician, and philanthropist. He served as the 11th Prime Minister of Canada from August 7, 1930, to October 23, 1935, during the worst of the Great Depression years...
as the representative for that district, by acclaimation as the Liberal candidate withdrew. After his acclimation Cunnington moved his family to Ottawa, Ontario he took his seat 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...
on January 25, 1940 the same day that parliament was dissolved.
Cunnington would return to Calgary to contest the election be defeated by Manley Edwards
Manley Justin Edwards
Manley Justin Edwards was a barrister, teacher and Canadian federal politician.Edwards ran as a Liberal candidate in the 1940 Canadian federal election. He defeated incumbent Douglas Cunnington in a hotly contested race. Edwards has been the only Liberal candidate to win Calgary West thus far...
a candidate from the Liberals
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 1940 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 1940
The Canadian federal election of 1940 was the 19th general election in Canadian history. It was held March 26, 1940 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 19th Parliament of Canada...
. In that election Cunnington ran under the National Government banner. He would not return to federal politics.