Thomas Bellamy
Encyclopedia
Thomas Bellamy was a politician in Alberta
, Canada
and a municipal councillor in Edmonton
.
in 1853. He moved to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
in 1881 after marrying Lora Davis in 1875. The pair had two daughters and one son; the son, Ralph, would go on to become a city councillor in Edmonton himself.
He engaged in agricultural business as an agent of A. Harris, Son, and Co. and was transferred to Winnipeg
in 1890 and Edmonton two years later. In Edmonton, he started the Bellamy Company, dealers of agricultural implements, in 1896, and also introduced lilacs to the city.
He served on the public school board in 1893, again from 1895 until 1899, and a last time from 1901 to 1902.
He began his career in municipal politics in 1895
when he was elected to Edmonton Town Council as an alderman. He was re-elected in 1896
, finishing third of eight candidates (the top six were elected), but did not seek re-election the following election
. He attempted to make a return to council in 1900
, but was defeated, placing seventh of eight candidates. He next effort, in 1904
, was more successful, as he placed fourth of seventeen candidates and became one of four aldermen elected to a two year term on Edmonton's first city council
.
At the conclusion of this term, in the 1906 election
, Bellamy made his first of three bids for mayor. He finished second of three candidates, being defeated by William Antrobus Griesbach
. He returned to council as an alderman the next election
, finishing third of twelve candidates, but resigned halfway through his two year term to contest the mayoral race in 1908 election
. This time, he was defeated by Robert Lee
.
Bellamy took a hiatus from politics, but when James McKinley
resigned his seat in 1911 to protest the firing of two city commissioners, Bellamy ran against him during the ensuing by-election
and defeated him by 966 votes to 576. He did not seek re-election the following year, but did return for a final stint on council during the 1916 election
, when he placed first of eleven aldermanic candidates. He once again resigned half way through his two year term to run for mayor, but finished fourth of five candidates in the 1917
. He did not return to political life thereafter.
Bellamy was a Mason
, and served as lodge treasurer for twenty years. He had a reputation as an excellent ritualist. According to legend, this was because his business required him to travel extensively by horse and buggy. Bellamy would recite the rituals aloud on such journeys, and his horse eventually became so familiar with them that if Bellamy erred in reciting them, it would stop and refuse to proceed until he got it right.
Thomas Bellamy died October 11, 1926. Bellamy Hill in Edmonton is named in his honour.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, 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...
and a municipal councillor in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
.
Biography
Bellamy was born in Durham County, OntarioDurham County, Ontario
Durham County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was named from the English County and city.Durham County was created in 1792. It was composed of the townships of Cartwright, Manvers, Cavan, Darlington, Clarke and Hope, and portions of what is now Peterborough County,...
in 1853. He moved to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
-Transportation:Portage la Prairie railway station is served by Via Rail with both The Canadian and Winnipeg – Churchill trains calling at the station....
in 1881 after marrying Lora Davis in 1875. The pair had two daughters and one son; the son, Ralph, would go on to become a city councillor in Edmonton himself.
He engaged in agricultural business as an agent of A. Harris, Son, and Co. and was transferred to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
in 1890 and Edmonton two years later. In Edmonton, he started the Bellamy Company, dealers of agricultural implements, in 1896, and also introduced lilacs to the city.
He served on the public school board in 1893, again from 1895 until 1899, and a last time from 1901 to 1902.
He began his career in municipal politics in 1895
Edmonton municipal election, 1895
The 1895 municipal election was held January 14, 1895 to elect the town council and four trustees for each of the public and separate school divisions...
when he was elected to Edmonton Town Council as an alderman. He was re-elected in 1896
Edmonton municipal election, January 1896
The first of two 1896 municipal elections was held January 13, 1896 to elect the town council , five trustees for the public school division and four trustees for the separate school division....
, finishing third of eight candidates (the top six were elected), but did not seek re-election the following election
Edmonton municipal election, December 1896
The second of two 1896 municipal elections was held December 14, 1896. This was the first election to take place on the second Monday of December instead of the second Monday in January...
. He attempted to make a return to council in 1900
Edmonton municipal election, 1900
The 1900 municipal election was held December 10, 1900 for the purpose of electing a mayor and three aldermen to sit on the Edmonton Town Council, as well as five public school trustees and four separate school trustees....
, but was defeated, placing seventh of eight candidates. He next effort, in 1904
Edmonton municipal election, 1904
The 1904 municipal election was held December 12, 1904 for the purpose of electing a mayor and eight aldermen to sit on the Edmonton City Council, as well as five public school trustees and five separate school trustees. It was Edmonton's first election as a city, and the first in which there were...
, was more successful, as he placed fourth of seventeen candidates and became one of four aldermen elected to a two year term on Edmonton's first city council
Edmonton City Council
The Edmonton City Council is the governing body of the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors. Until 2010, Edmonton was divided in six wards with two councillors representing citizens in each ward...
.
At the conclusion of this term, in the 1906 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1906
The 1906 municipal election was held December 10, 1906 for the purpose of electing a mayor and four aldermen to sit on the Edmonton City Council, as well as five public school trustees and six separate school trustees...
, Bellamy made his first of three bids for mayor. He finished second of three candidates, being defeated by William Antrobus Griesbach
William Antrobus Griesbach
Major General William Antrobus Griesbach CB CMG DSO was a Canadian politician, decorated soldier, mayor of Edmonton, and member of the Canadian House of Commons and Senate of Canada.-Early life:...
. He returned to council as an alderman the next election
Edmonton municipal election, 1907
The 1907 municipal election was held December 9, 1907 for the purpose of electing a mayor and five aldermen to sit on the Edmonton City Council, as well as five public school trustees and six separate school trustees...
, finishing third of twelve candidates, but resigned halfway through his two year term to contest the mayoral race in 1908 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1908
The 1908 municipal election was held December 14, 1908 for the purpose of electing a mayor and six aldermen to sit on the Edmonton City Council, as well as three public school trustees and five separate school trustees...
. This time, he was defeated by Robert Lee
Robert Lee (Canadian politician)
Robert Lee was a politician in Alberta, Canada and a mayor of Edmonton.-Biography:Lee was born in Lanark County, Ontario on March 10, 1862 and graduated from the Dominion Business College in Kingston. He married Annette Wilson, with whom he would have a daughter and two sons, in 1897...
.
Bellamy took a hiatus from politics, but when James McKinley
James McKinley
James Henry McKinley was a politician in Alberta, Canada and a municipal councillor in Edmonton.-Biography:...
resigned his seat in 1911 to protest the firing of two city commissioners, Bellamy ran against him during the ensuing by-election
Edmonton municipal by-election, 1911
In 1911, James McKinley, an alderman on Edmonton City Council, resigned his position to protest the firing of two city commissioners. A by-election to fill the vacancy he left was scheduled for August 14 of that year. McKinley himself was a candidate, as was Thomas Bellamy. Bellamy defeated...
and defeated him by 966 votes to 576. He did not seek re-election the following year, but did return for a final stint on council during the 1916 election
Edmonton municipal election, 1916
The 1916 municipal election was held December 11, 1916 to elect a mayor and six aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, three trustees to sit on the public school board, and four trustees to sit on the separate school board....
, when he placed first of eleven aldermanic candidates. He once again resigned half way through his two year term to run for mayor, but finished fourth of five candidates in the 1917
Edmonton municipal election, 1917
The 1917 municipal election was held December 10, 1917, to elect a mayor and seven aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council and four trustees to sit on each of the public and separate school boards...
. He did not return to political life thereafter.
Bellamy was a Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, and served as lodge treasurer for twenty years. He had a reputation as an excellent ritualist. According to legend, this was because his business required him to travel extensively by horse and buggy. Bellamy would recite the rituals aloud on such journeys, and his horse eventually became so familiar with them that if Bellamy erred in reciting them, it would stop and refuse to proceed until he got it right.
Thomas Bellamy died October 11, 1926. Bellamy Hill in Edmonton is named in his honour.