James Alexander Calder

James Alexander Calder, PC (September 17, 1868 – July 20, 1956) was a Canadian politician.

The Hon. James Alexander Calder P.C.
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for South Regina
In office 1905 – 1908
Preceded by	new district
Succeeded by	district abolished
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for Saltcoats
In office 1908 – 1917
Preceded by	Thomas MacNutt
Succeeded by	George William Sahlmark
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Moose Jaw
In office 1917 – 1921
Preceded by	William Erskine Knowles
Succeeded by	Robert Milton Johnson
Senator for Saskatchewan (Moose Jaw)
In office September 22, 1921 – July 20, 1956
Appointed by	Arthur Meighen
Personal details
Born	(1868-09-17)September 17, 1868 Oxford County, Ontario
Died	July 20, 1956(1956-07-20) (aged 87)
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Provincial: Liberal Party of Saskatchewan (1905–17) Federal: Unionist (1917–21), Conservative (1921–42), Progressive Conservative (1942–56)
Alma mater	University of Manitoba
Profession	Educator, school principal

Biography

Born in Oxford County, Ontario, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba in 1888. He was a teacher and principal, before being elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for the riding of South Regina in the 1905 provincial election. A Liberal, he was re-elected in a 1908 by-election and in the 1912 election. From 1905 to 1912, he was the Minister of Education, Provincial Treasurer, and Minister of Railways. The rural village of Calder, SK was named after him when it was incorporated in 1911. From 1916 to 1917, he was the President of the Executive Council, Minister of Railways, and Minister of Highways.

He was elected as a Unionist candidate to the House of Commons of Canada for the riding of Moose Jaw in the 1917 federal election. He held many ministerial positions including Minister of Immigration and Colonization, Minister of Agriculture (Acting), Minister of Militia and Defence (Acting), President of the Privy Council, and Minister presiding over the Department of Health.

In 1921, he was called to the Canadian Senate, appointed on the advice of The Rt. Hon. Arthur Meighen, representing the senatorial division of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. A Conservative (and later Progressive Conservative), he died in office in 1956.

Philately

Outside politics, Calder was a noted philatelist who signed the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 1947.[1]

Electoral History

1905 Saskatchewan general election: South Regina electoral district

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Liberal	James Alexander Calder	872	52.15%	–
	Provincial Rights	James Benjamin Hawkes	800	47.85%	–
Total			1,672	100.00%

1908 Saskatchewan general election: Milestone electoral district

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Provincial Rights	Albert Eugene Whitmore	1,097	51.55%	+3.70
	Liberal	James Alexander Calder	1,031	48.45%	-3.70
Total			2,128	100.00%

December 7, 1908 By-election: Saltcoats electoral district

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Liberal	James Alexander Calder	1,101	81.25%	+16.31
	Independent	Hugh Alexander Green	254	18.75%	–
Total			1,355	100.00%

1912 Saskatchewan general election: Saltcoats electoral district

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Liberal	James Alexander Calder	1,357	74.07%	-7.18
	Conservative	James Nixon	475	25.93%	-
Total			1,832	100.00%

1917 Saskatchewan general election: Saltcoats electoral district

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Liberal	James Alexander Calder	2,699	71.14%	-2.93
	Conservative	Henry Leppington	1,095	28.86%	+2.93
Total			3,794	100.00%

1917 Canadian federal election
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Government (Unionist)	CALDER, Hon. James Alexander	8,866
	Opposition-Labour	SOMERVILLE, James	2,946

References and sources

References

1. Background notes on The Roll of Distinguished Philatelists September 2011, Roll of Distinguished Philatelists Trust, London, 2011. Archived here.

Sources

• James Alexander Calder – Parliament of Canada biography
• "Historical Members of the Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-10-28. Retrieved 2006-08-06. (137 KiB)
• "Offices Held by Members of the Executive Council" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2006-08-06. (206 KiB)
• "Saskatchewan Election Results By Electoral District" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-26. Retrieved 2016-11-17.

Political offices
Preceded by Newton Wesley Rowell	Minister presiding over the Department of Health 1920–1921	Succeeded by John Wesley Edwards