Richard Hanson (Canadian politician)

Richard Burpee Hanson, PC, KC (March 20, 1879 – July 14, 1948) was a Canadian politician who served as interim leader of the Conservative Party from May 14, 1940, until November 11, 1941.

Richard Hanson
Leader of the Opposition
In office
May 14, 1940  January 1, 1943
Preceded byRobert Manion
Succeeded byGordon Graydon
Mayor of Fredericton
In office
1918–1920
Personal details
Born(1879-03-20)March 20, 1879
Bocabec, New Brunswick, Canada
DiedJuly 10, 1948(1948-07-10) (aged 69)
Political partyConservative
SpouseJean B. Neill (m. 1906)
Children1
Residence(s)270 Church St., Fredericton
Alma materMount Allison University, Dalhousie Law School
ProfessionLawyer

Early life and education

Hanson was born on March 20, 1879, in Bocabec, Charlotte County, New Brunswick, to parents Richard B. and Hannah Hanson. He was educated in public schools in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Mount Allison University, and Dalhousie Law School.[1]

Career

Hanson was admitted to the Bar of New Brunswick in November 1902 and was created a King's Counsel by the Government of New Brunswick in January 1917. From 1918 to 1920, he was Mayor of Fredericton.[1]

First elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for the New Brunswick electoral district of York—Sunbury in the 1921 general election,[2] Hanson served continuously in the House of Commons of Canada until his defeat in the 1935 election.[3] He was appointed to the Cabinet of R. B. Bennett in 1934 as Minister of Trade and Commerce.[4]

In the 1940 election, he returned to Parliament despite the poor showing of the Conservatives in that election and the personal defeat of Robert Manion. Since Manion resigned two months after the election, the Conservative caucus chose Hanson as interim leader and he served as Conservative Party Leader until Arthur Meighen was appointed the party's new leader in November 1941.[5] As Meighen did not have a seat in the House (and then failed to win a seat through a by-election), Hanson continued as Leader of the Opposition until 1943.

Death and legacy

Hanson died on July 14, 1948, due to illness.[6] The University of New Brunswick hands out the Richard Burpee Hanson Prize to a Faculty of Arts male student with the highest grades in English and History in the Sophomore level.[7]

Archives

There is a Richard Burpee Hanson fonds at Library and Archives Canada.[8]

Electoral history

1940 Canadian federal election: Fredericton
Party Candidate Votes%±%
National GovernmentRichard Hanson10,35251.10+5.53
LiberalPeter J. Hughes9,90848.90+2.05
Total valid votes 20,260100.00
1935 Canadian federal election: Fredericton
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalWilliam George Clark9,29646.85+15.92
ConservativeRichard Hanson9,04245.57-23.50
ReconstructionErrol MacDonald1,5067.59Ø
Total valid votes 19,844 100.00
1930 Canadian federal election: Fredericton
Party Candidate Votes%±%
ConservativeRichard Hanson10,16669.07+3.61
LiberalFraser Winslow4,55230.93-3.61
Total valid votes 14,718100.00
1926 Canadian federal election: Fredericton
Party Candidate Votes%±%
ConservativeRichard Hanson8,45165.46-7.46
LiberalPeter J. Hughes4,45934.54+7.46
Total valid votes 12,910 100.00
1925 Canadian federal election: Fredericton
Party Candidate Votes%±%
ConservativeRichard Hanson8,63672.92+19.97
LiberalCharles Robert Hawkins3,20727.08-19.97
Total valid votes 11,843100.00
1921 Canadian federal election: Fredericton
Party Candidate Votes%±%
ConservativeRichard Hanson7,77752.95-0.62
LiberalWilliam James Osborne6,91147.05+0.62
Total valid votes 14,688 100.00

References

  1. Prominent people of the Maritime Provinces (in business and professional life) 1922, p. 79.
  2. "Two By-Elections Made No Change in Party Status". Brandon Daily Sun. Manitoba. 30 May 1921.icon of an open green padlock
  3. "I First Saw". Winnipeg Tribune. Winnipeg. 26 November 1934.icon of an open green padlock
  4. "New Dominion Cabinet Ministers". Timmins Procupine Advance. Ontario. 3 December 1934.icon of an open green padlock
  5. Reardon, Terry (6 October 2012). Winston Churchill and Mackenzie King: So Similar, So Different. Dundurn. p. 200. ISBN 9781459705906. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  6. "Ex-House Leader R.B. Hanson Dies After Illness". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg. 14 July 1948.icon of an open green padlock
  7. "Richard Burpee Hanson Prize". unb.ca. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  8. "Richard Burpee Hanson fonds, Library and Archives Canada". 20 July 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2020.

Bibliography

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