Stephen Richards (politician)

Summary

Stephen Richards (c. 1820 – October 4, 1894) was a lawyer and political figure of Ontario, Canada. He represented Niagara in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Conservative member from 1867 to 1874.

Stephen Richards
Source: Library and Archives Canada

He was born in Brockville in about 1820 and educated in Toronto. He was called to the bar in 1844. In 1858, he was named Queen's Counsel. He was elected to the provincial legislature in an 1867 by-election after the sitting member resigned. He served as Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Executive Council of the province from 1867 to 1871 and provincial secretary in 1871. He died in Toronto in 1894.

One of his brothers, William Buell Richards, was the first Chief Justice of Canada. Another, Albert Norton Richards, was a member of the Canadian House of Commons and Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia.

Electoral history edit

1867 Ontario general election: Leeds South
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative Benjamin Tett 1,380 50.13
Liberal Stephen Richards 1,373 49.87
Total valid votes 2,753 83.96
Eligible voters 3,279
Conservative pickup new district.
Source: Elections Ontario[1]
Ontario provincial by-election, December 1867: Niagara
Resignation of Donald Robertson
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen Richards 229 99.13 +44.82
Independent Mr. Geale 2 0.87  
Total valid votes 231 100.0   −58.45
Conservative hold Swing +44.82
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario[2]: 230 
1871 Ontario general election: Niagara
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stephen Richards 277 62.25 −36.88
Liberal Mr. Ball 168 37.75  
Turnout 445 56.98 +92.64
Eligible voters 781
Conservative hold Swing −36.88
Source: Elections Ontario[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1867. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  2. ^ Lewis, Roderick (1968). Centennial Edition of a History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario, 1867–1968. OCLC 1052682.
  3. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1871. Retrieved March 31, 2024.

External links edit

  • Member's parliamentary history for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
  • The Canadian parliamentary companion and annual register, 1874, HJ Morgan