Lachlin (Lachlan) McCallum (March 15, 1823 – January 13, 1903) was a Canadian politician.[1]

Lachlin McCallum
Member of Parliament
for Monck
In office
1874–1887
Preceded byJames David Edgar
Succeeded byArthur Boyle
In office
1867–1872
Preceded byRiding established
Succeeded byJames David Edgar
Ontario MPP
In office
1871–1872
Preceded byGeorge Secord
Succeeded byHenry Ryan Haney
ConstituencyMonck
Personal details
Born(1823-03-15)March 15, 1823
Tiree, Argyllshire, Scotland
DiedJanuary 13, 1903(1903-01-13) (aged 79)
Stromness, Ontario, Canada
Political partyConservative
Spouse
Priscilla Dawson Thewliss
(m. 1854)
OccupationContractor, Ship owner

McCallum, born in Tiree, Argyllshire, Scotland, was a contractor and shipowner before entering politics as a Liberal-Conservative. He represented the riding of Monck in the House of Commons of Canada from 1867 to 1872, when he was defeated by James David Edgar.[1] However, in 1874, McCallum defeated Edgar by a margin of just 34 votes, and was returned to Parliament.

Due to the closeness of the result, McCallum was unseated on May 12, 1875. In the subsequent byelection, McCallum again defeated Edgar, this time by a mere 4 votes.[1]

McCallum was an unsuccessful candidate for a seat in assembly for the Province of Canada in 1863.[2] He was also a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario having been elected in the 1871 election in the riding of Monck. He was a member of the Ontario Conservative Party.[3]

He served as reeve for the United Townships of Sherbrooke and Moulton in Ontario.[1]

McCallum remained in the House until 1887, when he was appointed to the Senate; he served in the Senate until his death at the age of 79.[1]

McCallum was the founder and Naval Captain (Colonel) of the Dunnville Naval Brigade 1861–1866. During the Fenian Raid he commanded the 'war tug' W.T. Robb and fought with his men against the Fenians in Fort Erie on the afternoon of June 2. Outnumbered 10 to 1, McCallum and sixteen other men fought their way out of Fort Erie before being rescued by the Robb.

McCallum lived in Stromness, Ontario. In 1854, he married Priscilla Dawson Thewliss. He died in office in Stromness in 1903.[2]

Electoral history

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Federal

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1867 Canadian federal election: Monck
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal–Conservative Lachlin McCallum 1,126
Unknown Dr. Frazer 871
Eligible voters 2,539
Source: Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1871[4]
1872 Canadian federal election: Monck
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal James David Edgar 1,334
Liberal–Conservative Lachlin McCallum 1,293
Source: Canadian Elections Database[5]
1874 Canadian federal election: Monck
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal–Conservative Lachlin McCallum 1,354
Liberal James David Edgar 1,320
lop.parl.ca
By-election on 22 June 1875

Due to unseating of Lachlin McCallum, 12 May 1875

Party Candidate Votes
Liberal–Conservative Lachlin McCallum 1,333
Liberal James David Edgar 1,329
1878 Canadian federal election: Monck
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal–Conservative Lachlin McCallum 1,459
Liberal James David Edgar 1,431
1882 Canadian federal election: Monck
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal–Conservative Lachlin McCallum 1,445
Unknown George A. McCallum 1,420

Provincial

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1871 Ontario general election: Monck
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lachlin McCallum 931 50.13 −5.96
Liberal James David Edgar 926 49.87 +5.96
Turnout 1,857 66.35 −12.24
Eligible voters 2,799
Conservative hold Swing −5.96
Source: Elections Ontario[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Lachlin McCallum – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. ^ a b Johnson, J.K. (1968). The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867-1967. Public Archives of Canada.
  3. ^ Member's parliamentary history for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
  4. ^ "Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1871". 1871. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  5. ^ Sayers, Anthony M. "1872 Federal Election". Canadian Elections Database. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1871. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
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