William Wilber Wilfred Wilson
Encyclopedia
William Wilber Wilfred Wilson (October 6, 1885 in Birtle
, Manitoba
– January 27, 1964) was a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1915 to 1922, and again from 1941 to 1949.
Wilson was educated at Manitoba's Wesley College, and worked as an attorney-at-law. He was the mayor
of Russell, Manitoba
from 1915 to 1918, concurrent with his early tenure in the legislature.
Wilson was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1915
. Running for the Liberal Party
, he easily defeated Conservative
candidate J.P. Laycock in the constituency of Russell.
Wilson was re-elected without difficulty in the 1920 election
. During these years, he was a backbench
supporter of Premier
Tobias C. Norris's government.
The Liberals were defeated in the 1922 provincial election
, and Wilson lost his seat to Isaac Griffiths
of the United Farmers of Manitoba. He sought re-election in 1927
, but was again defeated.
Wilson served as chair of the Russell School Board from 1935 to 1942.
He was re-elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1941 provincial election
, following a nineteen-year absence. Previously, the United Farmers of Manitoba had evolved into the Progressive Party
, and had merged with the Liberals to create the "Liberal-Progressive Party". Wilson ran as a Liberal-Progressive, and defeated Cooperative Commonwealth Federation candidate H.J. Peddies by 14 votes in Russell. He again served as a government backbencher, supporting the administrations of John Bracken
and, after 1943, Stuart Garson
.
Wilson again defeated a candidate of the CCF in the 1945 provincial election
. He did not run in 1949.
Birtle, Manitoba
Birtle is a small town of 690 people , located on the prairies of western Manitoba, Canada at the junction of Highways 83 and 42.-History:...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
– January 27, 1964) was a politician in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, 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...
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
from 1915 to 1922, and again from 1941 to 1949.
Wilson was educated at Manitoba's Wesley College, and worked as an attorney-at-law. He was the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Russell, Manitoba
Russell, Manitoba
Russell is a town of 1,428 located in southwestern Manitoba, Canada, in the Rural Municipality of Russell. The town of Russell is located along Highway 16 and Highway 83, and is at the western terminus of Highway 45. Russell is approximately 15 km from the Saskatchewan border and 340 km...
from 1915 to 1918, concurrent with his early tenure in the legislature.
Wilson was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the provincial election of 1915
Manitoba general election, 1915
Manitoba's general election of August 6, 1915 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held only one year after the previous general election of 1914. In that election, the governing Conservatives of premier Rodmond P. Roblin were...
. Running for the Liberal Party
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
, he easily defeated Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
candidate J.P. Laycock in the constituency of Russell.
Wilson was re-elected without difficulty in the 1920 election
Manitoba general election, 1920
Manitoba's general election of 29 June 1920 was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.-Background:...
. During these years, he was a backbench
Backbencher
In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition...
supporter of Premier
Premier of Manitoba
The Premier of Manitoba is the first minister for the Canadian province of Manitoba. He or she is the province's head of government and de facto chief executive. Until the early 1970s, the title "Prime Minister of Manitoba" was used frequently. Afterwards, the word Premier, derived from the French...
Tobias C. Norris's government.
The Liberals were defeated in the 1922 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1922
Manitoba's general election of July 18, 1922 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.As in the previous election of 1920, the city of Winnipeg elected ten members by the single transferable ballot...
, and Wilson lost his seat to Isaac Griffiths
Isaac Griffiths
Isaac Bertie Griffiths was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1922 to 1941, and was a cabinet minister in the government of John Bracken....
of the United Farmers of Manitoba. He sought re-election in 1927
Manitoba general election, 1927
Manitoba's general election of 28 June 1927 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This was the first election in Manitoba history to elect members through a single transferable ballot in all constituencies...
, but was again defeated.
Wilson served as chair of the Russell School Board from 1935 to 1942.
He was re-elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1941 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1941
Manitoba's general election of April 22, 1941 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was held shortly after the formation of a coalition government in December 1940...
, following a nineteen-year absence. Previously, the United Farmers of Manitoba had evolved into the Progressive Party
Progressive Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Party of Manitoba, Canada, was a political party that developed from the United Farmers of Manitoba, an agrarian movement that became politically active following World War I...
, and had merged with the Liberals to create the "Liberal-Progressive Party". Wilson ran as a Liberal-Progressive, and defeated Cooperative Commonwealth Federation candidate H.J. Peddies by 14 votes in Russell. He again served as a government backbencher, supporting the administrations of John Bracken
John Bracken
John Bracken, PC was an agronomist, the 11th Premier of Manitoba and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ....
and, after 1943, Stuart Garson
Stuart Garson
Stuart Sinclair Garson, was a Canadian politician and lawyer. He served as the 12th Premier of Manitoba from 1943 to 1948, and later became a federal cabinet minister....
.
Wilson again defeated a candidate of the CCF in the 1945 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1945
Manitoba's general election of October 15, 1945 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.The 1945 provincial election was extremely different from the previous election, which was held in 1941...
. He did not run in 1949.