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Matthew Crooks Cameron

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sir
Matthew Crooks Cameron
Matthew Cameron, 1872
Ontario MPP
In office
1867–1878
Preceded byNew riding
Succeeded byAlexander Morris
ConstituencyToronto East
Personal details
Born(1822-10-02)October 2, 1822
Dundas, Upper Canada
DiedJune 25, 1887(1887-06-25) (aged 64)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political partyConservative
OccupationLawyer

Sir Matthew Crooks Cameron, QC (2 October 1822 – 25 June 1887) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1867 to 1878. He represented the riding of Toronto East. He served in the cabinet of the first Premier, John Sandfield Macdonald. After Macdonald's defeat in 1871, he became leader of the Conservative Party and served as Leader of the Opposition until his retirement from politics in 1878. After the legislature, he served as Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas until his death in 1887. In 1887 he was made a Knight Bachelor.

Background

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He was born in Dundas in Upper Canada, during his studies at Upper Canada College, he lost one leg after a shooting accident. Cameron later articled in law, was called to the bar in 1849 and entered practice with William Henry Boulton in Toronto, Ontario. He was created a QC on 27 March 1863, and elected a bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada in April 1871. In 1887, he was created a Knight Bachelor shortly before his death.

Politics

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In 1859, he was elected to Toronto City Council to represent St James' Ward. Two years, later, in January 1861, he was defeated in his effort to become Mayor of Toronto, but later that year, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for North Ontario. He was defeated in 1863 but was elected in an 1864 by-election when the incumbent, William McDougall, was forced to run for re-election after he was named to the executive council. Cameron was opposed to Confederation, preferring a legislative union. In 1867, he ran unsuccessfully in Ontario North in the federal election but was elected for Toronto East to the provincial legislature.[1]

Cameron entered the Cabinet of Premier John Sandfield Macdonald in 1867 as Provincial Secretary and Registrar of Ontario.

In 1871, he became Commissioner of Crown Lands. With the defeat of the Macdonald government in the provincial election that December, Cameron became leader of the Ontario Conservative Party, but stepped down in 1878 to accept the appointment of Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.

Electoral history

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1867 Ontario general election: Toronto East
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Matthew Crooks Cameron 1,178 56.28
Liberal Mr. Stock 914 43.67
Independent R.M. Allen 1 0.05
Total valid votes 2,093 49.80
Eligible voters 4,203
Conservative pickup new district.
Source: Elections Ontario[2]
1871 Ontario general election: Toronto East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Matthew Crooks Cameron 1,232 52.56 −3.72
Liberal Mr. Medcalf 1,112 47.44 +3.77
Turnout 2,344 52.26 +2.46
Eligible voters 4,485
Conservative hold Swing −3.75
Source: Elections Ontario[3]
1875 Ontario general election: Toronto East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Matthew Crooks Cameron 1,849 53.83 +1.27
Liberal Adam Crooks 1,579 45.97 −1.47
Independent R.M. Allen 7 0.20  
Total valid votes 3,435 54.42 +2.16
Eligible voters 6,312
Conservative hold Swing +1.37
Source: Elections Ontario[4]

References

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  1. ^ Evans, A. Margaret. "Cameron, Matthew Crooks". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. University of Toronto and Université Laval. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  2. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1867. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  3. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1871. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  4. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1875. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
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Political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition in the
Ontario Legislature

1871–1878
Succeeded by