Thomas Bain

Thomas Bain (December 14, 1834 – January 18, 1915) was a Scottish born Canadian parliamentarian.

Thomas Bain
8th Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada
In office August 1, 1899 – February 5, 1901
Monarch	Victoria Edward VII
Governor General	The Earl of Minto
Prime Minister	Sir Wilfrid Laurier
Preceded by	James David Edgar
Succeeded by	Louis Philippe Brodeur
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Wentworth South
In office 1896–1900
Preceded by	Franklin Metcalfe Carpenter
Succeeded by	E. D. Smith
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Wentworth North
In office 1872–1896
Preceded by	James McMonies
Succeeded by	Electoral district was abolished
Personal details
Born	(1834-12-14)December 14, 1834 Denny, Stirlingshire, Scotland
Died	January 18, 1915(1915-01-18) (aged 80) Dundas, Ontario
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Helen Weir
Portfolio	Speaker of the House of Commons (1898-1901)

Bain was born in Scotland, the son of Walter Bain,[1] and migrated to Canada with his family when he was three years old. They settled on a bush farm in Wentworth County near Hamilton, Ontario.[2]

He was elected to the County Council in the 1860s and became Warden. He was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1872 federal election as a Liberal. He was re-elected on six subsequent occasions, serving as an MP for 28 years before retiring in 1900. In the House, he usually spoke on agricultural issues, and became Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Colonization in 1896.

In 1874, he married Helen Weir.[1]

When the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, James David Edgar, died unexpectedly in July 1899, Wilfrid Laurier asked Bain to become the new Speaker for the remainder of Egar's term.

Bain served as Speaker until the House was dissolved for the 1900 election in which he did not run.

After retiring from politics, Bain became President of the Landed Banking and Loan Company and the Malcolm and Souter Furniture Company. He died in Dundas, Ontario at age 80.