James Gray Turgeon

James Gray Turgeon (October 7, 1879 – February 14, 1964) was a broker, soldier, and provincial and federal level politician from Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 to 1921 sitting with the Alberta Liberal caucus in government. During that time he also served in World War I.

The Honourable

James Gray Turgeon
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office
March 25, 1913 – July 18, 1921
Preceded byJames Lowery
Succeeded byCharles Wright
ConstituencyRibstone
Member of the Canadian House of Commons
In office
October 14, 1935 – June 11, 1945
Preceded byJohn Fraser
Succeeded byWilliam Irvine
ConstituencyCariboo
Canadian Senator
In office
January 27, 1947 – February 14, 1964
ConstituencyCariboo, British Columbia
Personal details
BornOctober 7, 1879
Bathurst, New Brunswick
DiedFebruary 14, 1964(1964-02-14) (aged 84)
Political partyLiberal
Occupationbroker, soldier and politician
Military service
AllegianceCanada
Branch/serviceCanadian Expeditionary Force
Years of service1914–1918
RankLieutenant
Battles/warsWorld War I

Turgeon had a long career in federal politics. He served as a Member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1935 to 1947 and he also served as a Canadian Senator from 1947 to his death in 1964 sitting with the federal Liberal caucus in both houses.

Early life

James Gray Turgeon was born on October 7, 1879 in Bathurst, New Brunswick. His father was Onésiphore Turgeon a prominent federal politician.[1] He had one brother William who also became a prominent politician.

Alberta politics

Turgeon ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature for the first time in the 1913 Alberta general election as a Liberal candidate. He defeated Conservative candidate William Blair to pick up the new Ribstone electoral district for his party.[2]

During the 3rd Legislature, the Assembly passed An Act amending The Election Act respecting Members of the Legislative Assembly on Active Service (Bill 58) which acclaimed members of the assembly in the 1917 election who were serving in armed forces during the First World War. The Act listed eleven members of the assembly and provided those members were deemed nominated and elected as a member of the 4th Alberta Legislature, effectively being acclaimed in the 1917 election, including James Turgeon, who served as a lieutenant in the Canadian Army 233rd Battalion and later 258th Battalion during the war.[3][4][5]

Turgeon ran for a third term in the 1921 Alberta general election. He was defeated in a landslide by United Farmers of Alberta candidate Charles Wright.[6]

World War I

Turgeon enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force while he was still a member of the Alberta Legislature in 1914. He served as a lieutenant in the army until 1918. Turgeon spent two months overseas in England, and accompanied Pierre-Édouard Blondin on a ten day visit to France before returning to Canada. Turgeon was struck from the strength of the Canadian Expeditionary Force on January 21, 1918 for reason of being "Surplus to Requirements".[3]

British Columbia

Turgeon moved to British Columbia, he ran for a seat to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 1933 British Columbia general election as a candidate for the British Columbia Liberals in the riding of Vancouver East he was defeated only obtaining 16% of the vote and finishing in fourth place out of thirteen candidates.[7]

Two years later, Turgeon would run for a seat in the House of Commons of Canada in the 1935 Canadian federal election as a federal Liberal candidate. He defeated Incumbent John Fraser and three other candidates.[8]

Turgeon ran for a second term in the 1940 Canadian federal election. He won a hotly contested three-way race over Co-operative Commonwealth candidate William Irvine to hold his seat.[9]

The 1945 federal election would see Turgeon and Irvine face each other for the second time. This time Turgeon went down to defeat finishing a close second in the four-way race.[10]

After his defeat Turgeon was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Mackenzie King on January 27, 1947. He designated his senate division as Cariboo, British Columbia. He would serve in the Senate until his death on February 14, 1964.[1]

References
  1. James Gray Turgeon – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. "Ribstone Official Results 1913 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  3. "Captain James Gray Turgeon". Canadian Great War Project. University of Victoria. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  4. An Act amending The Election Act respecting Members of the Legislative Assembly on Active Service., SA 1917, c. 38
  5. "Ribstone Official Results 1917 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  6. "Ribstone Official Results 1921 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  7. "1871-1986 Elections" (PDF). Elections BC. pp. 178–179. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  8. "Cariboo Election Results". Parliament of Canada. October 14, 1935. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  9. "Cariboo Election Results". Parliament of Canada. March 26, 1940. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  10. "Cariboo Election Results". Parliament of Canada. June 11, 1945. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
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