David Mills (Canadian politician) explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
David Mills
Honorific-Suffix:PC
Constituency Mp:Bothwell
Parliament:Canadian
Successor:John Joseph Hawkins
Term Start:1867
Term End:1882
Predecessor2:John Joseph Hawkins
Successor2:James Clancy
Term Start2:1884
Term End2:1896
Office3:Senator for Bothwell, Ontario
Appointed3:Wilfrid Laurier
Term Start3:1896
Term End3:1902
Office4:Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
Nominator4:Wilfrid Laurier
Predecessor4:John Wellington Gwynne
Successor4:Wallace Nesbitt
Term Start4:1902
Term End4:1903
Office5:Superintendent-general on Indian Affairs
Term Start5:October 24, 1876
Term End5:October 8, 1878
Predecessor5:David Laird
Successor5:John A. Macdonald
Birth Date:18 March 1831
Birth Place:Orford Township, Upper Canada
Death Place:Ottawa, Ontario
Party:Liberal
Alma Mater:University of Michigan

David Mills, (March 18, 1831  - May 8, 1903) was a Canadian politician, author, poet and puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

He was born in Palmyra, in southwestern Upper Canada (now Ontario). His father, Nathaniel Mills, was one of the first settlers in the area. Mills served as superintendent of schools for Kent County from 1856 to 1865. He then attended the University of Michigan School of law, graduating with honors in 1867 with an LL.B degree.

He published The Present and Future Political Aspects of Canada in 1860 and The Blunders of the Dominion Government in connection with the North-West Territory in 1871.

Mills was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada as a Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) in the 1867 federal election and re-elected in four subsequent votes until being defeated in the 1882 election. He was an opponent of dual representation (the practice in which someone could simultaneously be a member of parliament as well as a member of the Ontario or Quebec legislature. He unsuccessfully introduced a private member's bill to abolish this practice, and continued to advocate for this until it was abolished in 1873.[1]

He returned to Parliament through an 1884 by-election. He was re-elected in subsequent elections until his defeat in the 1896 election despite this being the election that brought the Liberals back to power.

He served as Minister of the Interior in the Cabinet of Alexander Mackenzie from 1876 to 1878. Sir Wilfrid Laurier appointed Mills to the Senate of Canada after he lost his Commons seat in 1896, and appointed him to Cabinet as Minister of Justice and Leader of the Government in the Canadian Senate. He resigned from the Senate and Cabinet in 1902. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada on February 8, 1902, and served on the Court for one year until his death in 1903.

Electoral record

Mr. David Mills was appointed Minister of the Interior and Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, 24 October 1876:|}

Election declared void Mr. J.J. Hawkins was declared not duly elected and was unseated by judgement of Supreme Court. The seat was awarded to his opponent, 25 February 1884:|}

References

  1. Book: Schlee, Gary. Unknown and Unforgettable: A Guide to Canada's Prime Ministers. Shorelawn Publishing. 2018. 978-1-7753780-0-6. Toronto. 27. English.