James Simeon McCuaig (September 29, 1819 – August 4, 1888) was a businessman and political figure in Ontario, Canada. He represented Prince Edward in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1872, and in the House of Commons of Canada as a Conservative member from 1879 to 1882.[1]

James Simeon McCuaig
Member of Parliament
for Prince Edward
In office
1879–1882
Preceded byWalter Ross
Succeeded byJohn Milton Platt
Ontario MPP
In office
1871–1872
Preceded byWilliam Anderson
Succeeded byGideon Striker
ConstituencyPrince Edward
Personal details
Born(1819-09-29)September 29, 1819
Picton, Upper Canada
DiedAugust 4, 1888(1888-08-04) (aged 68)
Picton, Ontario
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)Julia Isabella Glass
Maria Augusta Pope
OccupationBusinessman

He was born in Picton in Upper Canada in 1819,[1] the son of John McCuaig, was educated there and established himself in business in Picton.[2] He owned steamships that operated on Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. McCuaig served two years as Inspector of Provincial Canals.[3] He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the assembly for the Province of Canada in 1854.[2] McCuaig was elected to the provincial assembly in a by-election in 1872 but resigned his seat to run unsuccessfully for the federal parliament later that year. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1878 supporting temperance in Prince Edward County.[3]

McCuaig was married twice: first to Julia Isabella Glass and then to Maria Augusta Pope. He died near Picton at the age of 68.[2]

Electoral history

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Provincial

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Ontario provincial by-election, January 1872: Prince Edward
Previous election voided
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Gideon Striker 1,644 49.62
Conservative James Simeon McCuaig 1,669 50.38
Total valid votes 3,313 100.0  
By-election result reversed on petition
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario[4]: 315 

Federal

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1867 Canadian federal election: Prince Edward
Party Candidate Votes
  Liberal Walter Ross 1,779
  Conservative James McCuaig 942
Source: Canadian Elections Database[5]
1872 Canadian federal election: Prince Edward
Party Candidate Votes
  Liberal Walter Ross 1,759
  Conservative James Simeon McCuaig 1,625
Source: Canadian Elections Database[6]
1874 Canadian federal election: Prince Edward
Party Candidate Votes
  Liberal Walter Ross 1,775
  Conservative James Simeon McCuaig 1,649
1878 Canadian federal election: Prince Edward
Party Candidate Votes
  Conservative James Simeon McCuaig 1,991
  Liberal John M. Platt 1,701
1882 Canadian federal election: Prince Edward
Party Candidate Votes
  Liberal John M. Platt 1,944
  Conservative James Simeon McCuaig 1,925

References

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  1. ^ a b James Simeon McCuaig – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. ^ a b c Johnson, J.K. (1968). The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867-1967. Public Archives of Canada.
  3. ^ a b The Canadian parliamentary companion and annual register, 1882, CH Mackintosh
  4. ^ Lewis, Roderick (1968). Centennial Edition of a History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario, 1867–1968. OCLC 1052682.
  5. ^ Sayers, Anthony M. "1867 Federal Election". Canadian Elections Database. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024.
  6. ^ Sayers, Anthony M. "1872 Federal Election". Canadian Elections Database. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024.
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