George Alexander Drew (Liberal-Conservative MP)

George Alexander Drew, QC (February 21, 1826 – July 5, 1891) was a Canadian lawyer, judge and political figure. He represented Wellington North in the House of Commons of Canada as a Liberal-Conservative member from 1867 to 1872 and from 1878 to 1882.[1]

George Alexander Drew
Source: Library and Archives Canada

He was born near Williamstown, Upper Canada,[1] the son of John Drew and Margaret McKay, and was educated there and in Cornwall. Drew studied law with John Sandfield Macdonald in Cornwall, was called to the bar in 1854 and set up practice in Elora. In 1856, he married Elizabeth Mary Jacob; in 1865, after his first wife's death, he married her sister, Maria Louise. Drew was named Queen's Counsel in 1872.[2]

Drew ran unsuccessfully against Nathaniel Higinbotham for the federal seat in 1872, 1874 and 1875 before defeating him in 1878.[1] In 1882, he was named judge for Wellington County; later that same year, he was named judge in the High Court of Justice for Ontario.[3] Drew died while still a judge at the age of 65.[4]

The community of Drew in Minto Township was named after him.[5]

His grandson, George Drew, later served as Premier of Ontario.[5]

1867 Canadian federal election: Wellington North
Party Candidate Votes%±%
  Liberal–Conservative George Alexander Drew 1,493
  Unknown Michael Hamilton Foley 1,271
Eligible voters 3,476
Source: Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1871[6]
1872 Canadian federal election: Wellington North
Party Candidate Votes%±%
  Liberal Nathaniel Higinbotham 1,264
  Liberal–Conservative George Alexander Drew 1,204
1874 Canadian federal election: Wellington North
Party Candidate Votes%±%
  Liberal Nathaniel Higinbotham 1,470
  Liberal–Conservative George Alexander Drew 1,464
By-election: On Mr. Higinbotham being unseated on petition, 18 March 1875: Wellington North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  Liberal Nathaniel Higinbotham 1,368
  Liberal–Conservative George Alexander Drew 1,365
1878 Canadian federal election: Wellington North
Party Candidate Votes%±%
  Liberal–Conservative George Alexander Drew 1,713
  Liberal Nathaniel Higinbotham 1,605

References
  1. George Alexander Drew – Parliament of Canada biography
  4. Johnson, J.K. (1968). The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867-1967. Public Archives of Canada.
  5. The Way It Was : A History of Minto Township, CM Harrison (1978) Archived April 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1871". Retrieved 27 June 2022.
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