Gordon Daniel Conant
Encyclopedia
Gordon Daniel Conant, KC (January 11, 1885 – January 2, 1953) was a Canadian
lawyer, politician, and the 12th Premier of Ontario
.
) in Ontario
, he was educated at the University of Toronto
and called to the Ontario Bar in 1912. He practiced law in Oshawa. In 1933, he was made a King's Counsel.
, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
representing the electoral district of Ontario
. A Liberal, he was appointed Attorney-General of Ontario in 1937 in the government of Mitchell Hepburn
.
Hepburn resigned suddenly, in October 1942, after a long series of erratic acts and especially due to his feud with Prime Minister
William Lyon Mackenzie King
that split Hepburn's cabinet and threatened the unity of his party. Hepburn announced that he was remaining leader of the party and Conant was selected as the new Premier by the Lieutenant Governor
. The party, led by King's supporters, demanded a leadership convention
and Conant and Hepburn were forced to acquiesce resulting in the election of Harry Nixon
as the new Liberal leader, who was thus appointed Premier in May 1943.
of the Supreme Court of Ontario
. In 1944, he was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Toronto. "Conant Street" in the Cedardale area of Oshawa is named for him, as was an elementary school (now closed).
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...
lawyer, politician, and the 12th Premier of Ontario
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
.
Early life
Born in Cedar Dale, East Whitby Township (now part of the City of OshawaOshawa, Ontario
Oshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
) 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....
, he was educated at 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...
and called to the Ontario Bar in 1912. He practiced law in Oshawa. In 1933, he was made a King's Counsel.
Municipal politics
In 1914, he was Deputy Reeve of Oshawa and Reeve in 1915. In 1916 and 1917, he was the Mayor of Oshawa. In 1934, he became Crown Attorney for Ontario County.Provincial politics
In 1937 electionsOntario general election, 1937
The Ontario general election, 1937 was held on October 6, 1937, to elect the 90 Members of the 20th Legislative Assembly of Ontario . It was the 20th general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
representing the electoral district of Ontario
Ontario (electoral district)
Ontario was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1925 to 1997. It was located in the province of Ontario. This riding was created in 1924 from Ontario South riding....
. A Liberal, he was appointed Attorney-General of Ontario in 1937 in the government of Mitchell Hepburn
Mitchell Hepburn
Mitchell Frederick Hepburn was the 11th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1934 to 1942. He was the youngest Premier in Ontario history, appointed at age 37....
.
Hepburn resigned suddenly, in October 1942, after a long series of erratic acts and especially due to his feud with Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
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...
that split Hepburn's cabinet and threatened the unity of his party. Hepburn announced that he was remaining leader of the party and Conant was selected as the new Premier by the Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario is the viceregal representative in Ontario of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
. The party, led by King's supporters, demanded a leadership convention
Leadership convention
In Canadian politics, a leadership convention is held by a political party when the party needs to choose a leader due to a vacancy or a challenge to the incumbent leader.- Overview :...
and Conant and Hepburn were forced to acquiesce resulting in the election of Harry Nixon
Harry Nixon
Harry Corwin Nixon was a Canadian politician and briefly the 13th Premier of Ontario.He was born on a farm near St...
as the new Liberal leader, who was thus appointed Premier in May 1943.
Later life
From 1943 to 1951, he was a MasterMaster (judiciary)
A Master is judicial officer found in the courts of England and in numerous other jurisdictions based on the common law tradition. A master's jurisdiction is generally confined to civil proceedings and is a subset of that of a judge. Masters are typically involved in hearing motions, case...
of the Supreme Court of Ontario
Supreme Court of Ontario
The Supreme Court of Ontario was a superior court of the Canadian province of Ontario. Now defunct, in 1989 the Courts of Justice Amendment Act, 1989 was enacted by the Government to create one large superior trial court for Ontario...
. In 1944, he was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Toronto. "Conant Street" in the Cedardale area of Oshawa is named for him, as was an elementary school (now closed).