John Campbell Elliott
Encyclopedia
John Campbell Elliott, PC
(August 25, 1872 – December 20, 1941) was a Canadian
lawyer
and politician.
He was born in Ekfrid Township, Ontario, the son of George Campbell and Jane Elliott. He was educated at the University of Trinity College
in the University of Toronto
, studied law at Osgoode Hall
and was called to the bar in 1896.
J. C. Elliott was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
in 1908 as the Member of the Legislative Assembly
(MLA) for the London, Ontario
area riding
of Middlesex West and a member of the Ontario Liberal Party
. The Liberals were out of government for the entire time Elliott was an MLA. In 1919, he ran in the first Ontario Liberal Party leadership convention
, coming in a poor third, and left provincial politics shortly afterwards.
Elliott moved to federal politics a few years later winning a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1925 federal election
as the Liberal
Member of Parliament
(MP) for the riding of Middlesex. In March 1926, he was appointed to the Canadian Cabinet by William Lyon Mackenzie King
as Minister of Labour. In September of that year, he was moved to the position of Minister of Public Works
, and remained in that portfolio until the Liberal government's defeat in the 1930 election
. Elliott was personally re-elected and sat on the Opposition benches until the Liberals returned to power in the 1935 election
. Elliott was returned to Cabinet, this time as Postmaster-General. In 1940, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate
where he sat until his death the next year.
J.C. Elliott was a member of a Baptist church, never married and had no issue.
Elliott was a District Deputy in the Masonic Order.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(August 25, 1872 – December 20, 1941) 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...
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 politician.
He was born in Ekfrid Township, Ontario, the son of George Campbell and Jane Elliott. He was educated at the University of Trinity College
University of Trinity College
The University of Trinity College, informally referred to as Trin, is a college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1851 by Bishop John Strachan. Trinity was intended by Strachan as a college of strong Anglican alignment, after the University of Toronto severed its ties with the Church of...
in 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...
, studied law at Osgoode Hall
Osgoode Hall
Osgoode Hall is a landmark building in downtown Toronto constructed between 1829 and 1832 in the late Georgian Palladian and Neoclassical styles. It houses the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Divisional Court of the Superior Court of Justice, and the Law Society of Upper Canada...
and was called to the bar in 1896.
J. C. Elliott was first 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...
in 1908 as the Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
(MLA) for the London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
area 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...
of Middlesex West and a member of the Ontario Liberal Party
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
. The Liberals were out of government for the entire time Elliott was an MLA. In 1919, he ran in the first Ontario Liberal Party leadership convention
Ontario Liberal leadership conventions
Ballot-by-ballot results of leadership elections in the Ontario Liberal Party, a political party in the Province of Ontario, Canada.Note: Before 1919, the leaders of the Ontario Liberal Party were chosen by the party's elected Members of the Legislative Assembly...
, coming in a poor third, and left provincial politics shortly afterwards.
Elliott moved to federal politics a few years later winning a 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...
in the 1925 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1925
The Canadian federal election of 1925 was held on October 29 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 15th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's Liberal Party formed a minority government. This precipitated the "King-Byng Affair".The Liberals under...
as the Liberal
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 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,...
(MP) for the riding of Middlesex. In March 1926, he was appointed to the Canadian Cabinet by 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...
as Minister of Labour. In September of that year, he was moved to the position of Minister of Public Works
Minister of Public Works (Canada)
The position of Minister of Public Works existed as part of the Cabinet of Canada from Confederation to 1995.As part of substantial governmental reorganization, the position was merged with that of the Minister of Supply and Services to create the position of Minister of Public Works and Government...
, and remained in that portfolio until the Liberal government's defeat in the 1930 election
Canadian federal election, 1930
The Canadian federal election of 1930 was held on July 28, 1930 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 17th Parliament of Canada...
. Elliott was personally re-elected and sat on the Opposition benches until the Liberals returned to power in the 1935 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...
. Elliott was returned to Cabinet, this time as Postmaster-General. In 1940, 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...
where he sat until his death the next year.
J.C. Elliott was a member of a Baptist church, never married and had no issue.
Elliott was a District Deputy in the Masonic Order.