Frederick Tennyson Congdon
Encyclopedia
Frederick Tennyson Congdon (November 16, 1858 - March 13, 1932) was a Canadian
politician
, lawyer
, and served as the Yukon
's fourth Commissioner
.
Congdon was born in Annapolis, Nova Scotia
and attended Yarmouth High School. Following graduation, he received a Bachelor of Arts
(BA) degree from the University of Toronto
in 1879 and a Bachelor of Laws
(LL.B.) degree in 1883. He then attended the Inner Temple
in London
to study law.
He was then an editorial writer for the Halifax Morning Chronicle between 1885 and 1887. He then practised law and lectured at Dalhousie University
. In 1898, he wrote Congdon's Digest of Nova Scotia Reports.
Around the turn of the 20th century, Congdon moved to the Yukon
Territory to serve as Crown Prosecutor
and legal advisor to the Yukon Council. In 1903, he was appointed Commissioner.
His term in office was not looked upon with a positive feeling and it was mired by corruption and controversy. He has also been blamed for the disincorporation of Dawson City in 1904.
Only a year after his appointment, Congdon resigned so he could win the Yukon's seat in the Canadian House of Commons
, which had been recently vacated by former Yukon Commissioner James Hamilton Ross
, who left his seat when he was appointed to the Canadian Senate
. A loyal Liberal Party
member, Congdon was defeated for the seat in Parliament.
However, he did not give up hope that he would sit in the House. He finally won the seat in 1908 in a by-election
, but lost it in 1911. This would be the last and only time that Congdon would serve as Member of Parliament
for the Yukon.
After 1921, following yet another defeat, Congdon practised law in Toronto
. He went once more for the seat, in 1926, only to suffer his last defeat. He died in Ottawa
in 1932.
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and served as the Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
's fourth Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
.
Congdon was born in Annapolis, Nova Scotia
Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Annapolis Royal is a town located in the western part of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. Known as Port Royal until the Conquest of Acadia in 1710 by Britain, the town is the oldest continuous European settlement in North America, north of St...
and attended Yarmouth High School. Following graduation, he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(BA) degree from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1879 and a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
(LL.B.) degree in 1883. He then attended the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to study law.
He was then an editorial writer for the Halifax Morning Chronicle between 1885 and 1887. He then practised law and lectured at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
. In 1898, he wrote Congdon's Digest of Nova Scotia Reports.
Around the turn of the 20th century, Congdon moved to the Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
Territory to serve as Crown Prosecutor
Crown Prosecutor
Crown Prosecutors are the public prosecutors in the legal system of Australia.Crown Prosecutors represent the Crown in right of the Commonwealth and in right of each State or Territory in criminal proceedings. Crown Prosecutors are appointed not elected and not public servants; they are private...
and legal advisor to the Yukon Council. In 1903, he was appointed Commissioner.
His term in office was not looked upon with a positive feeling and it was mired by corruption and controversy. He has also been blamed for the disincorporation of Dawson City in 1904.
Only a year after his appointment, Congdon resigned so he could win the Yukon's 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...
, which had been recently vacated by former Yukon Commissioner James Hamilton Ross
James Hamilton Ross
James Hamilton Ross was a Canadian politician, the Yukon Territory's third Commissioner, and an ardent defender of territorial rights...
, who left his seat when he was appointed to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
. A loyal 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...
member, Congdon was defeated for the seat in Parliament.
However, he did not give up hope that he would sit in the House. He finally won the seat in 1908 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....
, but lost it in 1911. This would be the last and only time that Congdon would serve as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Yukon.
After 1921, following yet another defeat, Congdon practised law in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He went once more for the seat, in 1926, only to suffer his last defeat. He died in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in 1932.