William Charlton
Encyclopedia
William Andrew Charlton, PC
(May 9, 1841 – November 9, 1930) was a lumber merchant, businessman and Canadian politician.
Born in Cattaraugus County, New York
, the son of Adam Charlton, he immigrated to Canada
in 1849 with his family. In 1869, he married Nellie Rockwell. Charlton entered politics and was first elected to the Ontario legislature
as the Liberal
Member of the Legislative Assembly
for Norfolk South in the 1890 general election
and served until 1904.
He served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
in 1903-1904 and was Commissioner of Public Works from 1904 until 1905.
Charlton moved to federal politics and won a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
as the federal Liberal
Member of Parliament
for Norfolk
in the 1911 federal election
. During the Conscription Crisis of 1917
he supported the government of Sir Robert Borden
and crossed the floor
to run in the 1917 federal election
as a Liberal-Unionist
in support of Borden's new Union government
defeating Laurier-Liberal
candidate John Alexander Wallace
.
In 1921 he was named to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
.
His brother John M. Charlton
also served in the House of Commons.
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,...
(May 9, 1841 – November 9, 1930) was a lumber merchant, businessman and Canadian politician.
Born in Cattaraugus County, New York
Cattaraugus County, New York
Cattaraugus County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 80,317. The county seat is Little Valley.-History:...
, the son of Adam Charlton, he immigrated to 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...
in 1849 with his family. In 1869, he married Nellie Rockwell. Charlton entered politics and was first elected to the Ontario legislature
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...
as the Liberal
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...
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....
for Norfolk South in the 1890 general election
Ontario general election, 1890
The Ontario general election, 1890 was the seventh general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on June 5, 1890, to elect the 91 Members of the 7th Legislative Assembly of Ontario ....
and served until 1904.
He served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario is the presiding officer of the provincial legislature. Since 1990 the position has been elected by MPPs using a secret ballot. Previously, the Speaker had been appointed by the Premier of Ontario after consultation with the Leader of the...
in 1903-1904 and was Commissioner of Public Works from 1904 until 1905.
Charlton moved to federal politics and won 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...
as the federal 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,...
for Norfolk
Norfolk (electoral district)
Norfolk was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1925. It was located in the province of Ontario...
in the 1911 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1911
The Canadian federal election of 1911 was held on September 21 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Canada.-Summary:...
. During the Conscription Crisis of 1917
Conscription Crisis of 1917
The Conscription Crisis of 1917 was a political and military crisis in Canada during World War I.-Background:...
he supported the government of Sir Robert Borden
Robert Borden
Sir Robert Laird Borden, PC, GCMG, KC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as the eighth Prime Minister of Canada from October 10, 1911 to July 10, 1920, and was the third Nova Scotian to hold this office...
and crossed the floor
Crossing the floor
In politics, crossing the floor has two meanings referring to a change of allegiance in a Westminster system parliament.The term originates from the British House of Commons, which is configured with the Government and Opposition facing each other on rows of benches...
to run in the 1917 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1917
The 1917 Canadian federal election was held on December 17, 1917, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 13th Parliament of Canada. Described by historian Michael Bliss as the "most bitter election in Canadian history", it was fought mainly over the issue of conscription...
as a Liberal-Unionist
Liberal-Unionist
For the British party see Liberal Unionist PartyLiberal-Unionists were supporters of the Liberal Party of Canada who, as a result of the Conscription Crisis of 1917 rejected Sir Wilfrid Laurier's leadership and supported the coalition Unionist government of Sir Robert Borden.Much of the Ontario...
in support of Borden's new Union government
Unionist Party (Canada)
The Unionist Party was formed in 1917 by Members of Parliament in Canada who supported the "Union government" formed by Sir Robert Borden during the First World War....
defeating Laurier-Liberal
Laurier Liberals
Prior to the 1917 federal election in Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada split into two factions:* the Laurier Liberals, who opposed conscription of soldiers to support Canada's involvement in World War I and who were led by former Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier; and* the Liberal Unionists who...
candidate John Alexander Wallace
John Alexander Wallace
John Alexander Wallace was a Canadian politician, engineer and farmer.Wallace was born in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. He was elected in 1921 to the Canadian House of Commons as a Member of the Progressive Party in the riding of Norfolk...
.
In 1921 he was named to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
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,...
.
His brother John M. Charlton
John M. Charlton
John M. Charlton was a Canadian Member of Parliament and businessman. Charlton was the Member of Parliament for Norfolk North, Ontario for 32 years until 1904...
also served in the House of Commons.