William Martin (Canadian politician) explained

William G. Martin
Office1:Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Term Start1:1958
Term End1:1966
Predecessor1:Hank Scott
Successor1:Robert Steen
Constituency1:St. Matthews
Office2:Ontario MPP
Term Start2:1926
Term End2:1934
Predecessor2:New riding
Successor2:Morrison Mann MacBride
Constituency2:Brantford
Birth Date:13 September 1886
Birth Place:Milton Abbot, Devonshire, England
Death Place:Brantford, Ontario
Party:Conservative
Occupation:Minister

William George Martin (September 13, 1886 – December 19, 1973) was a Canadian clergyman and politician. Martin represented Brantford in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1926 to 1934 as a Conservative member[1] and St. Matthews as a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1958 to 1966.[2]

Background

He was born in Milton Abbot, Devonshire, England, the son of William Martin, and came to Canada in 1910, settling in Calgary, Alberta. He was ordained a minister of the Congregational Church there. He returned to England in 1912 promoting immigration on behalf of the Canadian government. On his return to Canada, he received a degree in theology from Victoria College in Toronto, Ontario. He served as an assistant minister for the Methodist Church in Hamilton and then was a chaplain overseas during World War I. He returned to serve with the Congregational Church in Brantford. In 1935, Martin was historian for the Canadian expedition to the Eastern Arctic.[3]

Politics

In 1926, he was elected to the Ontario provincial assembly as a member of the Ontario Conservative Party for the constituency of Brantford. He served as the Minister of Welfare and Minister of Public Works from 1930 to 1934.[1] In 1936, Martin became minister at a United Church in Winnipeg, serving there until 1955.[3]

He was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1958 provincial election,[2] defeating CCF candidate Gordon Fines by over 800 votes in the Winnipeg constituency of St. Matthews. (Incumbent Hank Scott placed a distant fourth, running as an independent Conservative.) Martin defeated Fines again in the 1959 election, and was returned a third time in the 1962 campaign.[2] He was a backbench supporter of Dufferin Roblin's government throughout his time in office and also served four years as deputy speaker for the assembly.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: William George Martin, MPP . Legislative Assembly of Ontario . 2013-11-06.
  2. Web site: MLA Biographies - Deceased . Legislative Assembly of Manitoba . 2013-11-06.
  3. Web site: Rev. W. G. Martin fonds . Archives Canada . 2013-11-06 . 2015-04-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150403011441/http://www.archivescanada.ca/english/search/ItemDisplay.asp?sessionKey=1143412449030_206_191_57_196&l=0&lvl=2&v=0&coll=1&itm=230786&rt=1&bill=1 . dead .