James Atchison Skinner

James Atchison Skinner (October 26, 1826 – December 24, 1894) was a Scottish-born farmer, merchant and political figure in Ontario, Canada. He represented Oxford South in the House of Commons of Canada from 1874 to 1882 as a Liberal member.[1]

James Atchison Skinner
Source: Library and Archives Canada

He was born in Tain, Ross-shire,[1] the son of Hugh Ross Skinner and Mary Fraser McPherson, was educated in Scotland and came to Canada in 1843. He was first employed with a wholesale dry goods firm, establishing an importing and wholesale business in partnership with his younger brother around 1850. In 1849, he married Agnes Johnston, also a native of Scotland. His parents came to Canada in 1861. Skinner served in the militia during the Fenian raids, later reaching the rank of lieutenant-colonel.[2] He operated a farm near Woodstock, Ontario.[3] He was first elected to the House of Commons in an 1874 by-election held after Ebenezer Vining Bodwell was named superintendent for the Welland Canal. Skinner was unsuccessful when he ran for reelection in 1882.[1] He died in West Oxford Township at the age of 58.[3]

Skinner helped organize the Ontario Rifle Association and brought a Canadian team to the rifle competition at Wimbledon in 1870.[2]

References
  1. James Atchison Skinner – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. A Cyclopæedia of Canadian biography being chiefly men of the time ..., GM Rose (1886)
  3. Johnson, J.K. (1968). The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867-1967. Public Archives of Canada.
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