Thomas Bunn (Manitoba politician)

Thomas Bunn (May 16, 1830 – April 11, 1875[1]) was a Metis farmer and political figure in Manitoba. He represented St. Clements from 1870 to 1874 in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.

Thomas Bunn was the first son of Dr. John Bunn and Catherine Thomas, both Metis. He was raised in the parish of St. Paul (Middlechurch) and educated at the Red River Academy. Bunn settled in St. Andrew's. He married Isabella Clouston in 1854 and Rachel Harriot in 1859. He was a farmer throughout his life in the Red River Colony. Thomas and Isabel had two children, John (b. 1855) and Isabella (b. 1857). Thomas and Rachel had eight children; Edward (b. 1860), William (b. 1861), Flora Ann (b. 1862), Frances Victoria (b. 1864), Thomas (b. 1867), Margaret Victoria (b. 1868, d. 1971) Frances Jemima (b. 1870, d. 1870) and Thomas W. G. (b. 1875). In 1861, he moved to Mapleton.[2]

In 1868, Bunn was appointed to the Council of Assiniboia having previously served as clerk for the Council of Assiniboia and the Quarterly Court of Assiniboia from 1865-1869. Bunn was made a delegate to the Council from St. Clements in 1869. He was a supporter of Riel and chaired the famous open-air meetings of January 1870 when Donald A. Smith spoke to the Red River population. Bunn then served on the committee arranging the elections to the Legislative Assembly of Assiniboia in February 1870 and he himself became one of the delegates to the Assembly from St. Clements. He served as Secretary of State in this government. Bunn was called to the bar in 1871 and was clerk for the first General Quarterly Court in May 1871. [1]

His former residence has been declared a provincial heritage site.[3]