John Power Howden

Summary

John Power Howden (December 5, 1879 – November 4, 1959) was a Canadian Member of Parliament and physician.

The Hon.
John Power Howden
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for St. Boniface
In office
1925–1945
Preceded byDistrict was created in 1924
Succeeded byFernand Viau
Senator for St-Boniface, Manitoba
In office
1945–1959
Appointed byWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King
Personal details
Born(1879-12-05)December 5, 1879
Perth, Ontario, Canada
DiedNovember 4, 1959(1959-11-04) (aged 79)
Political partyLiberal

Howden was born in Perth, Ontario. When he was 12, his family moved to Manitoba[1] where he attended public school in Winnipeg and earned his medical degree at the University of Manitoba before establishing his practice in St. Boniface, Manitoba.[2]

He became active in community life and was elected mayor of St. Boniface serving in the position from 1916 to 1917.[2]

A Liberal, he was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1925 federal election as the Member of Parliament for St. Boniface and was re-elected in four subsequent elections and served in the House of Commons for two decades, until April 1945 when he was appointed to the Senate of Canada by William Lyon Mackenzie King.[2]

Howden served in the upper house until his death in 1959 several months after suffering from a stroke.

Electoral history edit

1940 Canadian federal election: Saint Boniface—Saint Vital
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Power Howden 7,926 51.8 -5.0
National Government George Campbell MacLean 3,578 23.4 +6.2
Social Credit Philippe Guay 1,839 12.0 +7.2
Co-operative Commonwealth George Henry Barefoot 1,739 11.4 -6.4
Independent Morris Jacob 216 1.4
Total valid votes 15,298 100.0
1935 Canadian federal election: Saint Boniface—Saint Vital
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Power Howden 7,353 56.8 +5.1
Co-operative Commonwealth Edwin Arnold Hansford 2,304 17.8 +3.5
Conservative Joseph-Placide Bertrand 2,222 17.2 -16.8
Social Credit Victor James Gray 624 4.8
Reconstruction Thomas Boniface Molloy 438 3.4
Total valid votes 12,941 100.0
1930 Canadian federal election: Saint Boniface—Saint Vital
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Power Howden 7,045 51.7 +0.7
Conservative Edgar Honwell Cook 4,630 34.0 +6.0
Labour Edwin Arnold Hansford 1,943 14.3 -6.7
Total valid votes 13,618 100.0
1926 Canadian federal election: Saint Boniface—Saint Vital
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Power Howden 5,903 51.0 +3.6
Conservative Joseph Bernier 3,235 28.0 +3.9
Labour Allan Meikle 2,427 21.0 -7.6
Total valid votes 11,565 100.0
1925 Canadian federal election: Saint Boniface—Saint Vital
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal John Power Howden 4,819 47.4
Independent Labour Allan Meikle 2,901 28.5
Conservative George Campbell MacLean 2,442 24.0
Total valid votes 10,162 100.0

References edit

  1. ^ "Dr. J.P. Howden - Named Senator After 19 Years in Commons", Globe and Mail, November 6, 1959
  2. ^ a b c Manitoba Historical Society biography

External links edit

  • Manitoba Historical Society biography
  • John Power Howden – Parliament of Canada biography