Gordon Graydon
Encyclopedia
Gordon Graydon, BA
, QC
, LL.D (December 7, 1897, Snelgrove, Ontario
- September 19, 1953) was a Canadian
politician.
Graydon received his early education at Woodlands Secondary School in County Peel, Ontario
. He attended Brampton Centennial High School, and was a student at University of Toronto
in Political Science
. He graduated from Osgoode Hall law school
in 1924. He then became a partner of the late Justice William Raney
, one-time Attorney General of Ontario
.
In 1933, at the age of 36, Graydon became the President of the Peel County Conservative Association. He was the youngest man ever to hold that position. In 1934, he helped rejuvenate the Conservative Party of Ontario
by forming Young Conservative Clubs at a time when the party's existence was threatened. Optimism, confidence, acumen and an appealing manner were some of his assets.
He was one of thirty-five Conservative candidates who survived the Liberal Party
landslide of the 1935 federal election
, winning Peel riding
for his party.
Graydon was Opposition Leader in the Canadian House of Commons
from 1943 to 1945 because John Bracken
, the new leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
, did not have a seat in the House, and chose not to seek one until the 1945 federal election
.
It was said that he was well liked in Quebec, admired by the Irish and the agrarians who were a force in Graydon's formative years.
In 1945, he was Canadian delegate to the San Francisco World Conference, and delegate in London, representing Canada on the Preparatory Committee of the United Nations
. He was Alternate Delegate for Canada at the UN's 1st General Assembly 1946, Parliamentary advisor to the Canadian Delegate to the UN General Assembly in 1950 and in New York, 1952.
He was a member of Grace United Church, Brampton, of several local lodges, including Campbell's Cross Loyal Orange Logde of the Board of Regents of Victoria College and of the Peel War Records Board.
He remained Member of Parliament
for Peel until his death in 1953.
A high school
in Mississauga has been named in his honour. A senior public (junior high) school in Brampton, Ontario also bears his name.
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...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, LL.D (December 7, 1897, Snelgrove, Ontario
Snelgrove, Ontario
Snelgrove is an historic community in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, straddling the border between Brampton and Caledon centred on the intersection of Hurontario Street and Mayfield Road...
- September 19, 1953) was a Canadian
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.
Graydon received his early education at Woodlands Secondary School in County Peel, 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 attended Brampton Centennial High School, and was a student at 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 Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He graduated from Osgoode Hall law school
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
in 1924. He then became a partner of the late Justice William Raney
William Raney
William Edgar Raney, K.C. was a lawyer, politician and judge in Ontario, Canada, in the early twentieth century.-Background and early career:...
, one-time Attorney General of Ontario
Attorney General of Ontario
The Attorney General of Ontario is a senior member of the Executive Council of Ontario and governs the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario - the department responsible for the oversight of the justice system within the province. The Attorney General is an elected Member of Provincial...
.
In 1933, at the age of 36, Graydon became the President of the Peel County Conservative Association. He was the youngest man ever to hold that position. In 1934, he helped rejuvenate the Conservative Party of Ontario
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
by forming Young Conservative Clubs at a time when the party's existence was threatened. Optimism, confidence, acumen and an appealing manner were some of his assets.
He was one of thirty-five Conservative candidates who survived the 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...
landslide of the 1935 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1935
The Canadian federal election of 1935 was held on October 14, 1935 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 18th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal Party of William Lyon Mackenzie King won a majority government, defeating Prime Minister R.B. Bennett's Conservative Party.The central...
, winning Peel riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
for his party.
Graydon was Opposition Leader 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...
from 1943 to 1945 because John Bracken
John Bracken
John Bracken, PC was an agronomist, the 11th Premier of Manitoba and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ....
, the new leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
, did not have a seat in the House, and chose not to seek one until the 1945 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1945
The Canadian federal election of 1945 was the 20th general election in Canadian history. It was held June 11, 1945 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 20th Parliament of Canada...
.
It was said that he was well liked in Quebec, admired by the Irish and the agrarians who were a force in Graydon's formative years.
In 1945, he was Canadian delegate to the San Francisco World Conference, and delegate in London, representing Canada on the Preparatory Committee of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. He was Alternate Delegate for Canada at the UN's 1st General Assembly 1946, Parliamentary advisor to the Canadian Delegate to the UN General Assembly in 1950 and in New York, 1952.
He was a member of Grace United Church, Brampton, of several local lodges, including Campbell's Cross Loyal Orange Logde of the Board of Regents of Victoria College and of the Peel War Records Board.
He remained 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 Peel until his death in 1953.
A high school
Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School
Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School, "Gordon Graydon", "GGMSS", or simply "Graydon" for short, is a Canadian high school serving Grades 9 to 12, located at 1490 Ogden Avenue in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The school opened in 1957, and celebrated its 50th anniversary on May 26, 2007. It was...
in Mississauga has been named in his honour. A senior public (junior high) school in Brampton, Ontario also bears his name.
External links
- Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School - Mississauga Ontario