James Bryson Baird
Encyclopedia
James Bryson Baird was a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1907 to 1922, and was Speaker
of the Assembly from 1916 to 1922. Baird was a member of the Liberal Party
.
Baird was born in Appleton, Canada West (now Ontario
), and educated at Appleton Public School. He later moved to Manitoba, and worked as a merchant and cattle dealer. He was elected as the first mayor
of Pilot Mound, Manitoba
, and served three successive terms without opposition. He was also a postmaster and president of the local Board of Trade, and served eight years as chairman of the public school board.
He first ran for the Manitoba legislature in a by-election
held on April 27, 1905 to replace former Liberal leader Thomas Greenway
in the Mountain constituency. He lost to Conservative
Daniel McIntyre by 146 votes.
Baird ran again in the 1907 provincial election
, and defeated McIntyre by 433 votes. Rodmond P. Roblin's Conservatives were returned with a majority government in this election, and Baird sat as an opposition member. He was re-elected by fairly comfortable margins in the elections of 1910
and 1914
.
In 1915, the Roblin government was forced to resign amid a corruption scandal. Another election
was called, which the Liberals won with a landslide majority. Baird was selected as Speaker of the Legislature on January 6, 1916.
The Liberals were reduced to a minority government
in the 1920 provincial election
, and Baird was re-elected over his Farmer opponent by a reduced majority. He received a second term as Speaker on February 10, 1921.
The Liberal government was defeated in the legislature in early 1922. Baird lost his seat to Charles Cannon of the United Farmers of Manitoba in the 1922 provincial election
.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
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...
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
from 1907 to 1922, and was Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Assembly from 1916 to 1922. Baird was a member of the Liberal Party
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
.
Baird was born in Appleton, Canada West (now 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 educated at Appleton Public School. He later moved to Manitoba, and worked as a merchant and cattle dealer. He was elected as the first mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Pilot Mound, Manitoba
Pilot Mound, Manitoba
Pilot Mound is a town of about 700 people in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is located about 60 km west of the town of Morden. Pilot Mound is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Louise.- Sports :...
, and served three successive terms without opposition. He was also a postmaster and president of the local Board of Trade, and served eight years as chairman of the public school board.
He first ran for the Manitoba legislature 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 on April 27, 1905 to replace former Liberal leader Thomas Greenway
Thomas Greenway
For the American character actor , see Tom Greenway.Thomas Greenway was a politician, merchant and farmer. He served as the seventh Premier of Manitoba, Canada, from 1888 to 1900...
in the Mountain constituency. He lost to Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
Daniel McIntyre by 146 votes.
Baird ran again in the 1907 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1907
Manitoba's general election of March 7, 1907 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The result was a third consecutive majority government for the Conservative Party of Manitoba, led by premier Rodmond Palen Roblin...
, and defeated McIntyre by 433 votes. Rodmond P. Roblin's Conservatives were returned with a majority government in this election, and Baird sat as an opposition member. He was re-elected by fairly comfortable margins in the elections of 1910
Manitoba general election, 1910
Manitoba's general election of July 11, 1910 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The result was a fourth consecutive majority government for the Conservative Party of Manitoba, led by premier Rodmond Palen Roblin. Roblin's electoral machine won...
and 1914
Manitoba general election, 1914
Manitoba's general election of July 10, 1914 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The result was a fifth consecutive majority government for the Conservative Party, led by premier Rodmond P. Roblin...
.
In 1915, the Roblin government was forced to resign amid a corruption scandal. Another election
Manitoba general election, 1915
Manitoba's general election of August 6, 1915 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held only one year after the previous general election of 1914. In that election, the governing Conservatives of premier Rodmond P. Roblin were...
was called, which the Liberals won with a landslide majority. Baird was selected as Speaker of the Legislature on January 6, 1916.
The Liberals were reduced to a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
in the 1920 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1920
Manitoba's general election of 29 June 1920 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.-Background:...
, and Baird was re-elected over his Farmer opponent by a reduced majority. He received a second term as Speaker on February 10, 1921.
The Liberal government was defeated in the legislature in early 1922. Baird lost his seat to Charles Cannon of the United Farmers of Manitoba in the 1922 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1922
Manitoba's general election of July 18, 1922 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.As in the previous election of 1920, the city of Winnipeg elected ten members by the single transferable ballot...
.