Joseph Alexander Gillies

Joseph Alexander Gillies (September 17, 1849 – July 7, 1921) was a Canadian politician.[1]

Joseph Alexander Gillies
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Richmond
In office
1891–1900
Preceded byEdmund Power Flynn
Succeeded byJoseph Matheson
Personal details
Born(1849-09-17)September 17, 1849
Irish Cove, Nova Scotia
DiedJuly 7, 1921(1921-07-07) (aged 71)
Political partyConservative

Born in Irish Cove, Nova Scotia, the son of John Gillies and Mary McLean, Gillies was educated at St. Francis Xavier University graduating in April 1871. He was called to the Nova Scotia bar in 1875 and practised law in Sydney.[2] He was the registrar of probate for the County of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia from August 1872 until he resigned when he ran unsuccessfully for the riding of Cape Breton in the 1887 federal election. He was clerk of the Peace for Cape Breton county from December 1875 until January 1880 when the county was incorporated, and then he was appointed Municipal clerk, which he held until January 1883 when he became solicitor of the municipality (Sydney).

In 1883, he married Josephine Eulalie Bertrand. Gillies was named Queen's Counsel in 1895. In 1901, he purchased the Sydney Post.[2]

He was elected to the House of Commons of Canada for the riding of Richmond in the 1891 election but unseated upon petition and at the by-election held in January 1892 was re-elected. A Conservative, he was re-elected in 1896. He was defeated in 1900 and again in 1904 and 1911.[1]

Gillies died in Sydney at the age of 71.[2]

Electoral record

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1891 Canadian federal election: Richmond
Party Candidate Votes
Conservative Joseph Alexander Gillies 857
Conservative Henry Nicholas Paint 755
Liberal Edmund Power Flynn 670
By-election on 21 January 1892

On Mr. Gillies being unseated, 21 December 1891

Party Candidate Votes
Conservative Joseph Alexander Gillies acclaimed
1896 Canadian federal election: Richmond
Party Candidate Votes
Conservative Joseph Alexander Gillies 1,078
Liberal Edm. V. Flynn 1,056
1900 Canadian federal election: Richmond
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal Joseph Matheson 1,092
Conservative Joseph Alexander Gillies 840
1904 Canadian federal election: Richmond
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal Duncan Finlayson 1,270
Conservative Joseph Alexander Gillies 868
Conservative Henry Nicholas Paint 20
1911 Canadian federal election: Richmond
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal George William Kyte 1,268
Conservative Joseph Alexander Gillies 983

References

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  1. ^ a b Joseph Alexander Gillies – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. ^ a b c Johnson, J.K. (1968). The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867-1967. Public Archives of Canada.

This article incorporates text from The Canadian album: men of Canada, Vol. 3, a publication now in the public domain.