Christopher Finlay Fraser

Christopher Finlay Fraser (October 16, 1839 – August 24, 1894) was an Ontario lawyer and political figure. He represented Grenville South in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1872 to 1879 and Brockville from 1879 to 1894.

Christopher Finlay Fraser
Ontario MPP
In office
1879–1894
Preceded byWilmot Howard Cole
Succeeded byGeorge Augustus Dana
ConstituencyBrockville
In office
1872–1879
Preceded byMcneil Clarke
Succeeded byFrederick John French
ConstituencyGrenville South
Personal details
Born(1839-10-16)October 16, 1839
Brockville, Upper Canada
DiedAugust 24, 1894(1894-08-24) (aged 54)
Toronto, Ontario
Political partyLiberal
SpouseMary Ann Lafayette (m.1866)
Children2
OccupationLawyer

He was born in Brockville in Upper Canada in 1839. He worked as an apprentice at the Brockville Recorder while younger, articled in law, was called to the bar in 1864 and set up practice in Brockville. He was elected to the city council and also served as a lieutenant in the local militia. He was a member of the board of directors for the Ontario Bank and helped reorganize the finances of the Brockville and Ottawa Railway. He was a founding member of the Ontario Catholic League in 1869. He was named provincial secretary in 1873 and promoted to commissioner of Public Works the following year. In 1876, he was named Queen's Counsel. Fraser administered the rebuilding of the provincial parliament buildings at Queen's Park completed in 1894. During his time in office, Fraser served as a representative for Roman Catholic voters in the government of Oliver Mowat, defending their interests when he could and soothing their resentment when he couldn't.

He died in Toronto in 1894 after suffering a heart attack.

Electoral history

Brockville
1867 Ontario general election: Brockville and Elizabethtown
Party Candidate Votes%
ConservativeWilliam Fitzsimmons63051.05
LiberalChristopher Finlay Fraser60448.95
Total valid votes 1,23475.38
Eligible voters 1,637
Conservative pickup new district.
Source: Elections Ontario[1]
1879 Ontario general election: Brockville
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalChristopher Finlay Fraser1,37952.14+0.63
ConservativeD. Mansell1,26647.86−0.63
Total valid votes 2,64560.33−11.02
Eligible voters 4,384
Liberal hold Swing +0.63
Source: Elections Ontario[2]

Grenville South
Ontario provincial by-election, March 30, 1872: Grenville South
Death of Mcneil Clarke
Party Candidate Votes%
LiberalChristopher Finlay Fraser12352.12
IndependentMr. Ellis11347.88
Total valid votes 236100.0  
Election voided
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario[3]: 102 
Ontario provincial by-election, October 16, 1872: Grenville South
Previous election voided
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalChristopher Finlay Fraser89455.02+6.24
IndependentMr. Cairns73144.98 
Total valid votes 1,625100.0  +4.43
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +6.24
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario[3]: 102 
Ontario provincial by-election, December 1873: Grenville South
Ministerial by-election
Party Candidate Votes
LiberalChristopher Finlay FraserAcclaimed
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario[3]: 102 
1875 Ontario general election: Grenville South
Party Candidate Votes%
LiberalChristopher Finlay Fraser1,13653.36
ConservativeJ.C. Irvine99346.64
Turnout 2,12971.04
Eligible voters 2,997
Liberal hold Swing  
Source: Elections Ontario[4]
1879 Ontario general election: Grenville South
Party Candidate Votes%±%
ConservativeFrederick John French1,20553.01+6.37
LiberalChristopher Finlay Fraser1,06846.99−6.37
Total valid votes 2,27370.20−0.84
Eligible voters 3,238
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.37
Source: Elections Ontario[2]

References
  1. "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1867. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  2. "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1879. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  3. Lewis, Roderick (1968). Centennial Edition of a History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario, 1867–1968. OCLC 1052682.
  4. "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1875. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.