William Finlay

William Thomas Finlay
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office November 9, 1905 – 1910
Preceded by	New district
Succeeded by	Charles R. Mitchell
Constituency	Medicine Hat
Alberta Minister of Agriculture
In office September 9, 1905 – November 1, 1909
Preceded by	New position
Succeeded by	Duncan Marshall
Alberta Provincial Secretary
In office September 9, 1905 – November 1, 1909
Preceded by	New position
Succeeded by	Duncan Marshall
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
In office May 21, 1902 – August 31, 1905
Preceded by	Horace Albertie Greeley
Succeeded by	District abolished
Constituency	Medicine Hat
Personal details
Born	July 12, 1853 Lisburn, Ireland
Died	May 9, 1914 (aged 60) Vancouver, British Columbia
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Catherine Anne Allott
Children	Two sons, three daughters
Residence	Medicine Hat, Alberta
Occupation	Merchant, rancher
Religion	Presbyterian

William Thomas Finlay (July 12, 1853 – May 9, 1914)^[1] was a politician and cabinet minister in Alberta and Northwest Territories, Canada

Early life

William was born in Lisburn, Ireland and worked in the whole sale grocey business before moving to Montreal, Quebec in 1873. He moved to the Medicine Hat region 10 years later in 1883 and started working for the Northwest Lumber Company, and later his own firm Finlay and Company. He got married and became interested in territorial politics in 1898.^[2]

Northwest Territories politics

William ran for the Legislative Assembly of Northwest Territories in the 1898 Northwest Territories general election in the Medicine Hat district but was defeated, coming a close second to Horace Albertie Greeley.

William ran again in the 1902 Northwest Territories general election this time becoming elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Medicine Hat.^[3]

Alberta politics

William became Alberta's first Minister of Agriculture after the province was created on September 1, 1905 he was sworn into the executive council on the advice of Premier Alexander Cameron Rutherford on September 9, 1905.^[4]

In the provinces first general election, William was voted in as a member of the Alberta Liberal Party for Medicine Hat.

William was re-elected in the 1909 Alberta general election, but declined to return to his cabinet post due to his health. He stepped down as the member of his riding in 1910 after his health deteriorated to the point where he could no longer perform his duties, and made room for Charles R. Mitchell to run in a by-election.^[5]

Death

William moved to Vancouver, British Columbia after his retirement died in 1914.

Electoral record

1909 Alberta general election results (Medicine Hat)[6]			Turnout N.A.
	Liberal	William Thomas Finlay	1,249	71.66%
	Conservative	F. O. Sissions	494	28.34%
1905 Alberta general election results (Medicine Hat)[7]			Turnout N.A.
	Liberal	William Thomas Finlay	575	51.71%
	Conservative	F. D. Sissons	537	48.29%
1902 Northwest Territories general election results (Medicine Hat)[8]			Turnout N.A.
		William Thomas Finlay	486	70.33%
		J. A. Grant	205	29.67%
1898 Northwest Territories general election results (Medicine Hat)[8]			Turnout N.A.
		Horace Albertie Greeley	327	36.50%
		William Thomas Finlay	285	31.81%
		John George Calder	284	31.70%

References

2. "Pioneer profiles William T. Finlay". Pioneers Alberta. Retrieved 2006-10-15.
3. "History of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly 1876 - 1905" (PDF). Saskatchewan Archives. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-05-23. Retrieved 2006-10-15.
4. "Alberta Gazette October 1905". Alberta government. Retrieved 2006-10-15.
5. "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2006-10-15.
6. "Election results for Claresholm, 1909". Alberta Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
7. "Election results for Macleod, 1905". Alberta Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
8. "Territories" (PDF). Saskatchewan Archives Board. Retrieved 2010-03-23.