William Clyde Caldwell

William Clyde Caldwell (May 14, 1843 – January 7, 1905) was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Lanark North in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal member four times from 1872 to 1875, 1879 to 1886, 1888 to 1894 and 1898 to 1905.

William Clyde Caldwell
Ontario MPP
In office
1898–1905
Preceded byRichard Franklin Preston
Succeeded byRichard Franklin Preston
In office
1888–1894
Preceded byDaniel Hilliard
Succeeded byRichard Franklin Preston
In office
1879–1886
Preceded byWilliam Mostyn
Succeeded byDaniel Hilliard
In office
1872–1874
Preceded byDaniel Galbraith
Succeeded byWilliam Mostyn
ConstituencyLanark North
Personal details
Born(1843-05-14)May 14, 1843
Lanark in Canada West
DiedJanuary 7, 1905(1905-01-07) (aged 61)
Lanark, Ontario
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)Ida Virginia Cauldwell (1868-1869)
Katherine Smith Falconer (m. 1871)
Children7
OccupationLumber merchant

He was born William Caldwell in Lanark in Canada West in 1843. He worked in his father's timber company and later became a partner in the business. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Queen's College in 1866. Around 1872, he adopted the middle name Clyde, after the Clyde River in Lanark County where the family held timber limits, to distinguish himself from several other William Caldwells in the province. On his father's death, he inherited the company and several mills in Lanark. He became part-owner of a grist mill in Carleton Place and built a sawmill in Almonte. He also owned a woollen mill in Lanark. He was elected in an 1872 by-election to represent Lanark North in the Ontario legislature. In 1883, he moved to Kingston but kept property in Lanark. Caldwell was also a member of the Freemasons. He died in Lanark in 1905. Caldwell Street in Lanark is named after him.

Electoral history

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Ontario provincial by-election, August 1872: Lanark North
Resignation of Daniel Galbraith
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal William Clyde Caldwell 619 51.80
Conservative Bennett Rosamond 576 48.20
Total valid votes 1,195 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing  
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario[1]: 185 
1875 Ontario general election: Lanark North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Mostyn 913 50.72 +2.52
Liberal William Clyde Caldwell 887 49.28 −2.52
Turnout 1,800 80.07
Eligible voters 2,248
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +2.52
Source: Elections Ontario[2]
1879 Ontario general election: Lanark North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Clyde Caldwell 1,309 56.04 +6.76
Conservative William Mostyn 1,027 43.96 −6.76
Total valid votes 2,336 73.44 −6.64
Eligible voters 3,181
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +6.76
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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