William Walker Kennedy

William Walker Kennedy, MC, QC (February 6, 1882 February 10, 1963) was a Manitoba politician and lawyer.

He was born in Leeds County, Ontario and educated at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. He moved to Manitoba in 1904 where he worked as a journalist for two years before entering the University of Manitoba's law school. After earning his law degree he was called to the bar in 1909.

Kennedy joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in November 1915, and went to France with the 46th Battalion in May 1917. He was wounded and awarded the Military Cross for his service at the Battle of Passchendaele and was decorated for the Battle of Valenciennes. He was given field promotions to captain and then major before being discharged in 1919.

He was elected to the House of Commons of Canada as the MP for Winnipeg South Centre as a Conservative in the 1925 federal election but defeated the next year in the 1926 federal election.

Kennedy was returned to Parliament again in the 1930 federal election and served as Chairman of the Royal Commission on Price Spreads and Mass Buying which was commissioned by Prime Minister R.B. Bennett to investigate complaints made by one of his cabinet members H.H. Stevens.

Kennedy lost his seat in the 1940 federal election and was defeated a final time in the 1945 election.

Electoral history

1925 Canadian federal election: Winnipeg South Centre
Party Candidate Votes%
ConservativeWilliam Walker Kennedy12,09452.9
LiberalJoseph Fergus Davidson7,13231.2
LabourAlexander Henry3,64315.9
Total valid votes 22,869100.0
1926 Canadian federal election: Winnipeg South Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJoseph Thorarinn Thorson12,31551.2+20.0
ConservativeWilliam Walker Kennedy11,73748.8−4.1
Total valid votes 24,052 100.0
1930 Canadian federal election: Winnipeg South Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%
ConservativeWilliam Walker Kennedy17,35556.0+7.2
LiberalJoseph Thorarinn Thorson13,63744.0−7.2
Total valid votes 30,992 100.0
1935 Canadian federal election: Winnipeg South Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalRalph Maybank11,26436.4−7.6
ConservativeWilliam Walker Kennedy9,38230.3−25.7
Co-operative CommonwealthStanley Knowles6,57321.2
ReconstructionAlfred James Susans2,6428.5
Social CreditArthur Brown1,1143.6
Total valid votes 30,975 100.0
1940 Canadian federal election: Winnipeg South Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalRalph Maybank19,48654.5+18.1
National GovernmentWilliam Walker Kennedy10,69829.9−0.4
Co-operative CommonwealthJohn Julius Swanson5,57615.6−5.6
Total valid votes 35,760 100.0

Note: "National Government" vote is compared to Conservative vote in 1935 election.

1945 Canadian federal election: Winnipeg South Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalRalph Maybank16,38944.0−10.5
Co-operative CommonwealthLloyd Cleworth Stinson12,39333.3+17.7
Progressive ConservativeFrank Edward Womersley8,46122.7−7.2
Total valid votes 37,243 100.0

Note: Progressive Conservative vote is compared to "National Government" vote in 1940 election.

References


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