William Harty
Encyclopedia
William Harty was an Ontario
businessman and politician. He represented Kingston
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1892 to 1894 and from 1895 to 1901 and in the Canadian House of Commons
from 1902 to 1911 as a Liberal
member.
He was born in Biddulph Township, Canada West in 1847, the son of John Harty, an Irish
immigrant, and was educated in Kingston
. He worked in his uncle's wholesale grocery business, taking control of the company after his uncle died in 1866. In 1870, he married Catherine Mary Bermingham. Harty was president of the local Board of Trade in 1873. He was a director of the Kingston and Pembroke Railway
from 1875 to 1879. In 1881, Harty helped establish the Kingston Charcoal and Iron Company. In 1883, Harty and his wife were part of a group which established a Women's Medical College at Queen's University
.
With others, including George Airey Kirkpatrick
and Richard John Cartwright
, he helped bring the Canadian Locomotive and Engine Company back to Kingston from Montreal
and Harty became its managing director. Several years later, the company was sold to a Scottish
firm and Harty become general manager in Canada for the Equitable Life Assurance Society. In 1900, he was part of a group that purchased Canadian Locomotive and Engine Company after the company went into receivership; it was renamed the Canadian Locomotive Company Limited in 1901. Harty served as company president until 1911 when it was purchased by a group of Toronto
investors.
In 1879, Harty became a member of Kingston city council. In 1892, he was elected to the provincial assembly in a by-election held after James Henry Metcalfe
was elected to the House of Commons. He lost the seat by one vote in 1894 and won the by-election that followed in 1895. Harty served as Commissioner of Crown Lands from 1894 to 1896 and Commissioner of Public Works from 1896 to 1899. In 1892, he was elected to the House of Commons after Byron Moffatt Britton
was named a judge.
Harty retired from politics in 1911. He also was a trustee for Queen's University and a member of the senate for the University of Toronto
. He died in Kingston in 1929.
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....
businessman and politician. He represented Kingston
Kingston (electoral district)
Kingston was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1925 and from 1953 to 1968. It was located in the province of Ontario. It was created by the British North America Act of 1867, and initially consisted of the city of Kingston, Ontario...
in 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...
from 1892 to 1894 and from 1895 to 1901 and 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...
from 1902 to 1911 as a 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.
He was born in Biddulph Township, Canada West in 1847, the son of John Harty, an Irish
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...
immigrant, and was educated in Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
. He worked in his uncle's wholesale grocery business, taking control of the company after his uncle died in 1866. In 1870, he married Catherine Mary Bermingham. Harty was president of the local Board of Trade in 1873. He was a director of the Kingston and Pembroke Railway
Kingston and Pembroke Railway
The Kingston and Pembroke Railway was a Canadian railway that operated in eastern Ontario. The railway was seen as a business opportunity which would support the lumber and mining industries, as well as the agricultural economy in eastern Ontario....
from 1875 to 1879. In 1881, Harty helped establish the Kingston Charcoal and Iron Company. In 1883, Harty and his wife were part of a group which established a Women's Medical College at Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
.
With others, including George Airey Kirkpatrick
George Airey Kirkpatrick
Sir George Airey Kirkpatrick, was a politician from Ontario, Canada.Born in 1841 in Kingston, Ontario, the son of Thomas Kirkpatrick, George Kirkpatrick was educated at Trinity College, Dublin.-Career:...
and Richard John Cartwright
Richard John Cartwright
Sir Richard John Cartwright, PC, GCMG, PC was a Canadian businessman and politician. He was born and raised in Kingston, Ontario in a United Empire Loyalist family, the son of Harriet Dobbs Cartwright and the grandson of Richard Cartwright...
, he helped bring the Canadian Locomotive and Engine Company back to Kingston from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and Harty became its managing director. Several years later, the company was sold to a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
firm and Harty become general manager in Canada for the Equitable Life Assurance Society. In 1900, he was part of a group that purchased Canadian Locomotive and Engine Company after the company went into receivership; it was renamed the Canadian Locomotive Company Limited in 1901. Harty served as company president until 1911 when it was purchased by a group of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
investors.
In 1879, Harty became a member of Kingston city council. In 1892, he was elected to the provincial assembly in a by-election held after James Henry Metcalfe
James Henry Metcalfe
He was born in Kingston, Canada West in 1848, the son of John Metcalfe, who came to Kingston from Yorkshire, England. In 1869, he married Margaret Jane Clute. Metcalfe was a public school teacher in Kingston and later became an auctioneer. He served six years on the Kingston city council. Metcalfe...
was elected to the House of Commons. He lost the seat by one vote in 1894 and won the by-election that followed in 1895. Harty served as Commissioner of Crown Lands from 1894 to 1896 and Commissioner of Public Works from 1896 to 1899. In 1892, he was elected to the House of Commons after Byron Moffatt Britton
Byron Moffatt Britton
Byron Moffatt Britton was a politician, lawyer and lecturer. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1896 election to represent the riding of Kingston...
was named a judge.
Harty retired from politics in 1911. He also was a trustee for Queen's University and a member of the senate for 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...
. He died in Kingston in 1929.