William Andrew Charlton Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Hon.
William Andrew Charlton
Constituency Mp:Norfolk
Parliament:Canadian
Predecessor:Alexander McCall
Successor:John Alexander Wallace
Term Start:1911
Term End:1921
Office2:Ontario MPP
Predecessor2:William Morgan
Successor2:Arthur Clarence Pratt
Term Start2:1890
Term End2:1904
Constituency2:Norfolk South
Order3:10th
Office3:Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Predecessor3:François-Eugène-Alfred Évanturel
Successor3:Joseph St. John
Term Start3:March 10, 1903
Term End3:April 26, 1904
Birth Date:9 May 1841
Birth Place:Cattaraugus County, New York
Party:Liberal
Relations:John M. Charlton, brother
Occupation:Merchant

William Andrew Charlton, (May 9, 1841  - November 9, 1930) was a Canadian lumber merchant, businessman and politician.

Born in Cattaraugus County, New York, the son of Adam Charlton, he immigrated to Canada in 1849 with his family. In 1869, he married Nellie Rockwell. Charlton entered politics and was first elected to the Ontario legislature as the Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly for Norfolk South in the 1890 general election and served until 1904.[1]

He served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1903-1904 and was Commissioner of Public Works from 1904 until 1905.

Charlton moved to federal politics and won a seat in the House of Commons of Canada as the federal Liberal Member of Parliament for Norfolk in the 1911 federal election. During the Conscription Crisis of 1917, he supported the government of Sir Robert Borden and crossed the floor[2] to run in the 1917 federal election as a Liberal-Unionist in support of Borden's new Union government defeating Laurier-Liberal candidate John Alexander Wallace.[3]

In 1921, he was named to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada.

His brother, John M. Charlton, also served in the House of Commons.

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_all_detail.do?locale=en&ID=989 Legislative Assembly biography
  2. http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/HofCChange.asp?lang=E Members of the House of Commons who Crossed the Floor of the House of Commons or who Changed Parties
  3. http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/HFER/hfer.asp?Language=E&Search=Det&Include=Y&rid=488 History of Federal Ridings: Norfolk