Kenneth Chisholm (March 17, 1829 – September 26, 1906) was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Peel in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal member from 1873 to 1892.

Kenneth Chisholm
Ontario MPP
In office
1873–1892
Preceded byJohn Coyne
Succeeded byJohn Smith
ConstituencyPeel
Personal details
Born(1829-03-17)March 17, 1829
Toronto Township, Upper Canada
DiedSeptember 26, 1906(1906-09-26) (aged 77)
Brampton, Ontario
Political partyLiberal
OccupationBusinessman

He was born in Toronto Township (now part of Mississauga) in Upper Canada in 1829. He started work as a clerk and then as a grain salesman in Brampton. He went into business for himself in Milton but returned to Brampton and, with a partner, bought out his former employer. He served as postmaster from 1855 to 1873 and served several terms as reeve. He was elected to the Ontario legislature in an 1873 by-election held after John Coyne died. He was also a director of the Central Bank of Canada. He owned quarries in the Credit River valley which supplied stone used to build the Ontario Legislature in Toronto. In 1880, he invested in the local Haggert Foundry and became vice-president. However, by 1891, both the bank and the foundry had failed and Chisholm was forced to sell his mansion, now a Royal Canadian Legion hall in Brampton. He was appointed registrar for Peel County in 1892 and held that post until his death in Brampton in 1906.

Electoral history

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Ontario provincial by-election, December 29, 1873: Peel
Death of John Coyne
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Kenneth Chisholm 1,324 55.17 +6.52
Conservative S. White 1,076 44.83 −6.52
Total valid votes 2,400 100.0   +10.24
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +6.52
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario[1]: 284 
1875 Ontario general election: Peel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Kenneth Chisholm 1,349 51.98 −3.18
Conservative J.W. Beynon 1,246 48.02 +3.18
Total valid votes 2,595 72.95
Eligible voters 3,557
Liberal hold Swing −3.18
Source: Elections Ontario[2]
1879 Ontario general election: Peel
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Kenneth Chisholm 1,519 52.69 +0.70
Conservative Mr. McCulla 1,364 47.31 −0.70
Total valid votes 2,883 76.09 +3.13
Eligible voters 3,789
Liberal hold Swing +0.70
Source: Elections Ontario[3]

References

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  1. ^ Lewis, Roderick (1968). Centennial Edition of a History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario, 1867–1968. OCLC 1052682.
  2. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1875. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  3. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1879. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
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