Harry Corwin Nixon (April 1, 1891 – October 22, 1961) was a Canadian politician and briefly the 13th premier of Ontario in 1943. He is both the longest-serving member in the history of the Ontario legislature and the shortest-serving premier of Ontario.
Mitchell Hepburn, a farmer and former UFO organizer, became leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, and Nixon led his Progressive remnant into an alliance with Hepburn's party. In the 1934 election, Nixon and his followers ran as Liberal-Progressives, helping bring the Hepburn to power. He ran and was elected as a Liberal in the 1937 election.
Last surviving members of the UFO-Labour coalition government (1919–1923) in 1955. From left to right: Harry Mills, E.C. Drury, Harry Nixon and Walter Rollo
Nixon resumed his former Cabinet position of Provincial Secretary and Registrar in the Hepburn cabinet and was the senior minister in the government. During World War II, Hepburn clashed with William Lyon Mackenzie King, the LiberalPrime Minister of Canada, arguing that King was not sufficiently prosecuting the war effort, in particular by not introducing conscription (see Conscription Crisis of 1944). Hepburn openly supported King's rival, Conservative leader Arthur Meighen in a 1942 York South by-election, and seemed to be calling for the defeat of King. This was too much for many Ontario Liberals, who were either King loyalists or feared a rift between the federal and provincial parties. Hepburn was forced to resign on October 21, 1942.
Nixon was widely seen as the "heir apparent," and had earlier turned down Hepburn's offer to recommend that Nixon be appointed Premier, as Nixon insisted the leadership should be the choice of the party, not of Hepburn. However, Hepburn, while resigning as Premier, insisted on remaining as party leader, and simply appointed his ally, Gordon Daniel Conant as the new Premier of Ontario on October 21, 1942. Nixon resigned from the cabinet on October 22, 1942, in opposition to Hepburn's refusal to allow a leadership convention to elect a new leader. Conant was forced to resign after only six months due to serious divisions in the party, and a leadership convention was called. Nixon was chosen as Liberal leader, and thus appointed Premier in May 1943, but his government was unable to win the election held three months later, and the Liberals were reduced to third place behind George Drew's Progressive Conservatives and Ted Jolliffe's Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. Nixon resigned as Liberal leader on December 10, 1944, and nominated Hepburn as the party's House Leader (interim leader).[1] Hepburn led to party into the 1945 provincial election.
Harry Nixon remained a Liberal Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP)1 until his death in 1961. His son, Robert Nixon succeed him as MPP, and later became leader of the Liberal Party but never Premier. He served as Treasurer in the Cabinet of David Peterson from 1985 to 1990. Harry Nixon's granddaughter (and Robert Nixon's daughter) Jane Stewart served as a Cabinet minister in the federal Liberal government of Jean Chrétien.
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Harry Corwin Nixon April 1 1891 October 22 1961 was a Canadian politician and briefly the 13th premier of Ontario in 1943 He is both the longest serving member in the history of the Ontario legislature and the shortest serving premier of Ontario Harry Nixon13th Premier of OntarioIn office May 18 1943 August 17 1943MonarchGeorge VILieutenant GovernorAlbert E MatthewsPreceded byGordon Daniel ConantSucceeded byGeorge DrewMember of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for BrantBrant North 1919 1926Brant County 1926 1934In office October 20 1919 October 22 1961Preceded byThomas Scott DavidsonSucceeded byRobert NixonPersonal detailsBornHarry Corwin Nixon 1891 04 01 April 1 1891St George OntarioDiedOctober 22 1961 1961 10 22 aged 70 St George OntarioResting placeSt George United CemeteryPolitical partyOntario Liberal Party 1937 1961 Other politicalaffiliationsUnited Farmers of Ontario 1919 1923 Progressive 1923 1934 Liberal Progressive 1934 1937 Alma materUniversity of Toronto Contents 1 Life and career 2 See also 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksLife and career editNixon was born on a farm near St George Ontario the son of a dairy farmer Henry Nixon and studied at the University of Toronto s Ontario Agricultural College then affiliated with the university He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1919 as a candidate of the United Farmers of Ontario He served as a Cabinet minister in the government of Premier Ernest C Drury as Provincial Secretary and Registrar Following the defeat of the UFO Labour government in the 1923 election Nixon sat as a Progressive Member of the Legislative Assembly MLA and became the leader of the small Progressive bloc as most UFOers now called themselves after the 1929 election Mitchell Hepburn a farmer and former UFO organizer became leader of the Ontario Liberal Party and Nixon led his Progressive remnant into an alliance with Hepburn s party In the 1934 election Nixon and his followers ran as Liberal Progressives helping bring the Hepburn to power He ran and was elected as a Liberal in the 1937 election nbsp Last surviving members of the UFO Labour coalition government 1919 1923 in 1955 From left to right Harry Mills E C Drury Harry Nixon and Walter Rollo Nixon resumed his former Cabinet position of Provincial Secretary and Registrar in the Hepburn cabinet and was the senior minister in the government During World War II Hepburn clashed with William Lyon Mackenzie King the Liberal Prime Minister of Canada arguing that King was not sufficiently prosecuting the war effort in particular by not introducing conscription see Conscription Crisis of 1944 Hepburn openly supported King s rival Conservative leader Arthur Meighen in a 1942 York South by election and seemed to be calling for the defeat of King This was too much for many Ontario Liberals who were either King loyalists or feared a rift between the federal and provincial parties Hepburn was forced to resign on October 21 1942 Nixon was widely seen as the heir apparent and had earlier turned down Hepburn s offer to recommend that Nixon be appointed Premier as Nixon insisted the leadership should be the choice of the party not of Hepburn However Hepburn while resigning as Premier insisted on remaining as party leader and simply appointed his ally Gordon Daniel Conant as the new Premier of Ontario on October 21 1942 Nixon resigned from the cabinet on October 22 1942 in opposition to Hepburn s refusal to allow a leadership convention to elect a new leader Conant was forced to resign after only six months due to serious divisions in the party and a leadership convention was called Nixon was chosen as Liberal leader and thus appointed Premier in May 1943 but his government was unable to win the election held three months later and the Liberals were reduced to third place behind George Drew s Progressive Conservatives and Ted Jolliffe s Co operative Commonwealth Federation Nixon resigned as Liberal leader on December 10 1944 and nominated Hepburn as the party s House Leader interim leader 1 Hepburn led to party into the 1945 provincial election Harry Nixon remained a Liberal Member of Provincial Parliament MPP 1 until his death in 1961 His son Robert Nixon succeed him as MPP and later became leader of the Liberal Party but never Premier He served as Treasurer in the Cabinet of David Peterson from 1985 to 1990 Harry Nixon s granddaughter and Robert Nixon s daughter Jane Stewart served as a Cabinet minister in the federal Liberal government of Jean Chretien See also editMitchell Hepburn ResignationNotes edit1 In 1938 Members of the Ontario Legislative Assembly MLAs passed a motion to adopt the title Members of Provincial Parliament MPP References edit Nixon Quits as Leader Of Ontario Liberals Globe and Mail 11 December 1944 External links editHarry Corwin Nixon Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history archive History of the county of Brant FD Reville 1920 Archived 2016 03 03 at the Wayback Machine Plaque of Harry Nixon Political offices Party political offices Preceded byJohn Giles Lethbridge Leader of the Progressives1929 1934 Succeeded bynone Preceded byGordon Daniel Conant Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party1943 1944 Succeeded byMitchell Hepburn Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harry Nixon amp oldid 1221807037, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
