James Hurst Hawthornthwaite
Encyclopedia
James Hurst Hawthornthwaite (1869 – November 1, 1926) was an Irish
-born land agent, businessman and political figure in British Columbia
. He represented Nanaimo City
from 1901 to 1908 and from 1909 to 1912 as a Socialist
and Newcastle
from 1918 to 1920 as an Independent Socialist in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
.
He was born in County Westmeath
and educated in England
. Hawthornthwaite came to British Columbia during the 1880s. He worked as a secretary for the American consulate in Victoria
and the New Vancouver Coal Mining and Land Company Limited. In 1890, he married Elizabeth "Ada" Bate. Hawthornthwaite helped develop a workmen's compensation act in 1902. He also lobbied for improved safety standards and labour reforms in the mining industry. He was a founding member of the Socialist Party of Canada in 1904. He resigned his seat in 1908 to run unsuccessfully in the federal riding of Nanaimo
. Hawthornthwaite was able to regain his seat in a by-election held the following year. In 1912, the Socialist Party in Nanaimo became part of the Social Democratic Party of Canada
and Hawthornthwaite was not chosen as a candidate. He was later elected to the assembly in an 1918 by-election held in Newcastle after Parker Williams
resigned his seat. Hawthornthwaite died in Victoria.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born land agent, businessman and political figure 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...
. He represented Nanaimo City
Nanaimo City
Nanaimo City was a provincial electoral district in the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia in Canada from 1890 to 1912. It was one of two Nanaimo ridings at the time, created out of the older Nanaimo riding , with intermediary ridings The Islands and Nanaimo and the Islands...
from 1901 to 1908 and from 1909 to 1912 as a Socialist
Socialist Party of Canada
There have been two different but related political parties in Canada that called themselves the Socialist Party of Canada . The current Socialist Party is an electorally inactive and unregistered federal political party in Canada...
and Newcastle
Newcastle (electoral district)
Newcastle was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia to the south and including some of the city of Nanaimo. It appeared in the 1916 and 1920 elections only. In 1924, portions of it were incorporated into the new Cowichan-Newcastle riding...
from 1918 to 1920 as an Independent Socialist in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
.
He was born in County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
and educated in 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...
. Hawthornthwaite came to British Columbia during the 1880s. He worked as a secretary for the American consulate in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
and the New Vancouver Coal Mining and Land Company Limited. In 1890, he married Elizabeth "Ada" Bate. Hawthornthwaite helped develop a workmen's compensation act in 1902. He also lobbied for improved safety standards and labour reforms in the mining industry. He was a founding member of the Socialist Party of Canada in 1904. He resigned his seat in 1908 to run unsuccessfully in the federal riding of Nanaimo
Nanaimo (electoral district)
Nanaimo was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1979.This riding was created as Nanaimo riding in 1903 from parts of Vancouver and Victoria ridings....
. Hawthornthwaite was able to regain his seat in a by-election held the following year. In 1912, the Socialist Party in Nanaimo became part of the Social Democratic Party of Canada
Social Democratic Party of Canada
The Social Democratic Party was a social democratic political party in Canada founded in 1911 by members of the right wing of the Socialist Party of Canada. these members were dissatisfied with what they saw as that party's rigid, doctrinaire approach...
and Hawthornthwaite was not chosen as a candidate. He was later elected to the assembly in an 1918 by-election held in Newcastle after Parker Williams
Parker Williams
Parker Williams was a Welsh-born coal miner and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Newcastle in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1903 to 1918 as a Socialist and later as an independent Socialist.He worked as a coal miner in Wales, Alberta and Washington state...
resigned his seat. Hawthornthwaite died in Victoria.