John Fitzwilliam Stairs

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John Fitzwilliam Stairs, also known as John Fitz William Stairs (January 19, 1848 – September 26, 1904) was an entrepreneur and statesman, born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a member of the prominent Stairs family of merchants and shippers founded by William Machin Stairs (1789–1865) that included the Victorian era explorer, William Grant Stairs.

John F. Stairs
Born(1848-01-19)January 19, 1848
DiedSeptember 26, 1904(1904-09-26) (aged 56)
Occupation(s)Financier
Politician

Known as "John F.", he studied at Dalhousie University and then entered the management of the family's vast business empire. He was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in 1879, resigning in 1882 to successfully run for election to the House of Commons of Canada in Ottawa where he served as a Conservative Party member until 1896.

Stairs was president of many companies, including Nova Scotia Steel, Eastern Trust, Trinidad Electric (B.W.I.) and Royal Securities Corporation. He served as director of the Dartmouth and Halifax Steamboat Company, Nova Scotia Sugar Refining, the Union Bank of Halifax, Consumer Cordage, and during his lifetime, came to dominate the financial elite of the Maritime provinces.

He also employed Max Aitken (later, Lord Beaverbrook) at the beginning of Aitken's business career, hiring him in 1902 when he set up Royal Securities, the first investment firm in Eastern Canada. Max Aitken was at Stairs' bedside when he died in Toronto, Ontario. His remains were sent to Halifax where he was buried in the Fairview Cemetery.

Electoral history

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1896 Canadian federal election: Halifax
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Conservative Robert Borden 6,170 26.53  Y
Liberal Benjamin Russell 5,997 25.79  Y
Conservative Thomas Edward Kenny 5,616 24.15  
Liberal Michael Edwin Keefe 5,472 23.53  
Total valid votes 23,255 100.00
Source(s)
"Halifax (1867- )". History of Federal Ridings Since 1867. Library of Parliament. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
Two members were elected from the district.
Canadian federal by-election, 11 February 1892
Party Candidate Votes Elected
Conservative Thomas Edward Kenny acclaimed  Y
Conservative John Fitzwilliam Stairs acclaimed  Y
Called upon election being declared void
1891 Canadian federal election: Halifax
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Conservative Thomas Edward Kenny 5,274 27.69  Y
Conservative John Fitzwilliam Stairs 5,262 27.63  Y
Liberal Alfred Gilpin Jones 4,335 22.76  
Liberal Edward Farrell 4,174 21.92  
Total valid votes 19,045 100.00


1887 Canadian federal election: Halifax
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Liberal Alfred Gilpin Jones 4,243 25.53  Y
Conservative Thomas Edward Kenny 4,181 25.15  Y
Conservative John Fitzwilliam Stairs 4,099 24.66  
Liberal H.H. Fuller 4,098 24.66  
Total valid votes 16,621 100.00
Canadian federal by-election, 25 July 1883
Party Candidate Votes Elected
Conservative John Fitzwilliam Stairs acclaimed  Y
Called upon Matthew Richey being named Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, 4 July 1883

References

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