Gilbert Layton Explained

Gilbert Layton
Office:Minister without portfolio
Premier:Maurice Duplessis
Alongside:Antonio Élie, Thomas J. Coonan, Thomas Chapais
Term Start:August 26, 1936
Term End:October 5, 1939
Predecessor:Position established
Successor:Position abolished
Office1:Member of the
Legislative Assembly of Quebec
for Montréal–Saint-Georges
Term Start1:August 17, 1936
Term End1:October 25, 1939
Predecessor1:Charles Ernest Gault
Birth Date:5 November 1899
Birth Place:Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Death Place:Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Resting Place:Mount Royal Cemetery
Nationality:Canadian
Party:Union Nationale
Spouse:Norah Lestelle England
Children:Robert Layton
Residence:Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Occupation:Politician

Gilbert Layton (November 5, 1899  - May 29, 1961) was a Canadian politician and businessman in Quebec, Canada.

Background

Born in Montreal, Quebec, Layton, the son of Philip Edward David Layton and Alice Marion Gilbert, was a merchant and business executive in the family firm of Layton Brothers (founded 1887, now as Layton Audio) from 1918 to 1932. His father was a blind activist who led a campaign for disability pensions in the 1930s. Gilbert married Norah Lestelle England (daughter of Arthur John England and Florence Louise Grimmett) on February 18, 1921.

Member of the legislature

Gilbert Layton was elected to Quebec's legislative assembly in the riding of Montréal–Saint-Georges in 1936 as a member of the Union Nationale, a conservative party. He served as minister without portfolio in the government of Maurice Duplessis until resigning in 1939 to protest the Quebec government's opposition to conscription in World War II.[1] He ran for re-election to the legislature as an independent candidate that year and was defeated.

Federal politics

In the 1945 federal election, he ran as an Independent Progressive Conservative for the Mount Royal seat in the House of Commons of Canada, but was defeated. He placed fourth behind the Liberal victor, the official Progressive Conservative Party of Canada candidate and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) candidate.

Death

Layton died in Montreal and is buried at Mount Royal Cemetery.

Descendants

See main article: Layton family. Gilbert Layton's son, Robert Layton, served as a federal Progressive Conservative cabinet minister in the 1980s. His grandson, Jack Layton, was the leader of the federal New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011, and was Leader of the Official Opposition for a short time in 2011 until he died in office. His great-grandson is Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton.

Notes and References

  1. News: W. R. Bulloch Breaks With Duplessis . . Montreal . CP . 13 . 1939-10-05 . 1939-10-06 . 2024-06-14 . Newspapers.com.