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Thomas Ballantyne (politician)

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Thomas Ballantyne
Ontario MPP
In office
1875–1894
Preceded byThomas B. Guest
Succeeded byJohn McNeill
ConstituencyPerth South
7th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
In office
1891–1894
Preceded byJacob Baxter
Succeeded byWilliam Balfour
Personal details
Born(1829-08-13)August 13, 1829
Peebles, Scotland
DiedJune 29, 1908(1908-06-29) (aged 78)
Stratford, Ontario
Political partyLiberal
SpouseMary Ballantyne
OccupationBusinessman

Thomas Ballantyne (August 13, 1829 – June 29, 1908) was a Canadian politician and Speaker of the Ontario Legislature.

Ballantyne was born in Peebles, Scotland, and immigrated to Canada in 1852. He made his fortune as a cheese manufacturer, becoming successful enough to be elected president of the Dairyman's Association. He contested the riding of Perth North in the 1871 provincial election as a Liberal but was defeated. After declining the federal Liberal nomination in the 1872 federal election, he stood in the 1875 provincial election for Perth South and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal by a margin of 180 votes.

Ballantyne was re-elected on four successive occasions. In 1891, he became Speaker of the legislature and was the first Speaker to preside in the new legislative buildings at Queen's Park. He retired from public life after his defeat in the 1894 provincial election.

Electoral history

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1871 Ontario general election: Perth North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Andrew Monteith 1,630 57.88 +0.30
Liberal Thomas Ballantyne 1,186 42.12 −0.30
Turnout 2,816 68.20 −4.61
Eligible voters 4,129
Conservative hold Swing +0.30
Source: Elections Ontario[1]
1875 Ontario general election: Perth South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Ballantyne 1,508 53.23 +3.83
Conservative G. Leversage 1,325 46.77 −3.83
Total valid votes 2,833 70.98 −1.01
Eligible voters 3,991
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +3.83
Source: Elections Ontario[2]
1879 Ontario general election: Perth South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Ballantyne 1,759 55.00 +1.77
Conservative Mr. Brunner 1,439 45.00 −1.77
Total valid votes 3,198 65.67 −5.32
Eligible voters 4,870
Liberal hold Swing +1.77
Source: Elections Ontario[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1871. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1875. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1879. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
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