James McLenaghen

James McLenaghen

James O. McLenaghen (born September 4, 1891 in Balderson, Ontario; died June 23, 1950) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1927 until his death, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of John Bracken, Stuart Garson and Douglas Campbell.

McLenaghen was educated in Balderson until 1902, and then in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. He later attained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Manitoba University, and worked as a barrister-of-law, after studying in the office of future Prime Minister Arthur Meighen.

McLenaghen became active in the Conservative Party of Manitoba, and sought election to the provincial legislature for Kildonan and St. Andrews in the 1927 provincial election. He was successful, defeating Liberal W.H. Gibbs and a candidate aligned with the governing Progressive Party. He was re-elected in the 1932 election, defeating Gibbs (now a candidate of the merged "Liberal-Progressive" alliance) by 39 votes.

McLenaghen was returned by an increased majority in the 1936 provincial election, the first in which the Conservative Party was led by Errick Willis. Four years later, he helped to bring the Conservative Party into a governing alliance with the Liberal-Progressives, along with the smaller Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and Social Credit parties. All parties were given cabinet representation, and McLenaghen was appointed as Minister of Health and Public Welfare on November 4, 1942. The coalition's leader was Premier John Bracken, leader of the Liberal-Progressive Party.

On May 3, 1941, McLenaghen was appointed as the province's Attorney General. He left the Health portfolio on February 11, 1944, but continued to serve as Attorney General of Manitoba until his death. On December 14, 1948, he was also given the title Minister under the Trade Practices Enquiry Act. He also served as Minister of Labour from February 5, 1944 until February 14, 1946.

After joining the coalition government, McLenaghen did not face electoral competition from Liberal-Progressive candidates. He was re-elected in 1941, Manitoba general election, 1945 and 1949 over candidates of the CCF, though in 1945 he almost lost the coalition nomination to Frank Simmonds.

McLenaghen was known as a likeable figure, though essentially conservative on policy matters. Like other Attornies-General in the coalition government, he refused to devote crown resources to prison reform during the 1940s. He was also an influential figure in the Conservative Party, and frequently defended the coalition against other Tories who saw it as detrimental to party interests. His death in 1950 deprived the pro-coalition forces in the party of their most powerful voice, and the Conservatives in fact left the coalition soon after.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Manitoba general election, 1936 — Manitoba s general election of July 27, 1936 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. The was the second election in Manitoba after the formation of a Liberal Progressive alliance in 1932. The… …   Wikipedia

  • Manitoba general election, 1949 — Manitoba s general election of November 10, 1949 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. This election pitted the province s coalition government, made up of the Liberal Progressive Party and the …   Wikipedia

  • Manitoba general election, 1932 — Manitoba s general election of June 16, 1932 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. This was the second election in Manitoba where the single transferable ballot was used in all electoral… …   Wikipedia

  • 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… …   Wikipedia

  • 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. The coalition… …   Wikipedia

  • Cooperative Commonwealth Federation candidates, 1949 Manitoba provincial election — The Manitoba Cooperative Commonwealth Federation was the primary opposition party in the 1949 provincial election , challenging the coalition government of Liberal Progressives and Progressive Conservatives. Seven of the party s candidates were… …   Wikipedia

  • St. Andrews (electoral district) — St. Andrews is an historical provincial electoral division in Manitoba, Canada. It existed on two separate occasions, and was located to the immediate north of Winnipeg, the capital city. t. Andrews (original constituency)When Manitoba joined… …   Wikipedia

  • Manitoba Cooperative Commonwealth Federation candidates, 1949 Manitoba provincial election — The Manitoba Cooperative Commonwealth Federation was the primary opposition party in the 1949 provincial election, challenging the coalition government of Liberal Progressives and Progressive Conservatives. Seven of the party s candidates were… …   Wikipedia

  • 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. In …   Wikipedia

  • Minister of Justice and Attorney General (Manitoba) — The Minister of Justice and Attorney General is a cabinet minister in the government of Manitoba. Before 1990, the minister who held this position was simply designated as Attorney General. The minister who holds this office is also designated as …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”