Allen Bristol Aylesworth

Sir Allen Bristol Aylesworth, PC, KCMG, QC (27 November 1854 – 13 February 1952) was a Canadian lawyer and parliamentarian.

Sir Allen Bristol Aylesworth
Minister of Justice
In office
4 June 1906 – 6 October 1911
Preceded byCharles Fitzpatrick
Succeeded byCharles Doherty
Postmaster General
In office
16 October 1905 – 3 June 1906
Preceded byWilliam Mulock
Succeeded byRodolphe Lemieux
Minister of Labour
In office
16 October 1905 – 3 June 1906
Preceded byWilliam Mulock
Succeeded byRodolphe Lemieux
Personal details
Born(1854-11-27)November 27, 1854
Newburgh, Canada West
DiedFebruary 13, 1952(1952-02-13) (aged 97)
Political partyLiberal
EducationUniversity of Toronto

Life and career

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Born in Newburgh, Canada West, of United Empire Loyalist ancestry, Aylesworth was educated at the University of Toronto, and called to the Ontario Bar in 1878. As the Canadian member of the Alaska Boundary Tribunal in 1903, he presented his country's views in a minority report. Elected to the Dominion parliament in 1905, he served in the cabinet of Sir Wilfrid Laurier as postmaster-general and minister of labour, 1905–1906, and minister of justice, 1906–1911, in which capacity he oversaw the pardon of Angelina Napolitano, Canada's first battered woman defence case.[1] He acted as British representative at the North Atlantic Fisheries Arbitration in The Hague, 1910–1911, and was knighted for his services.

A Liberal, Aylesworth was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in a by-election on 22 November 1905 and re-elected in the 1908 as the Member of Parliament for the riding of York North in the province of Ontario. He served Cabinet of Canada under Sir Wilfrid Laurier as the Minister of Labour and Postmaster General of Canada from 16 October 1905 – 3 June 1906, and as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada from 4 June 1906 – 6 October 1911. On 11 January 1923 he was appointed to the Senate of Canada upon the recommendation of William Lyon Mackenzie King. He represented the senatorial division of North York, Ontario until his death.

Legacy

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Mount Aylesworth, aka Boundary Peak 177, a summit on the Alaska-British Columbia boundary, was named for him in 1927.[2]

Electoral record

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By-election on 22 November 1905

On Mr. Mulock being appointed Judge

Party Candidate Votes
Liberal Allen Bristol Aylesworth 2,729
Conservative Arch. McCallum 2,235
1908 Canadian federal election: York North
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal Allen Bristol Aylesworth 2,856
Conservative John Alexander Macdonald Armstrong 2,550

References

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  1. ^ Iacovetta, Franca (2005). "Napolitano (Neapolitano), Angelina". In Cook, Ramsay; Bélanger, Réal (eds.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XV (1921–1930) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
  2. ^ "Aylesworth, Mount". BC Geographical Names.
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Parliament of Canada
Preceded by Member of Parliament for York North
1905–1911
Succeeded by
Preceded by Senator for North York, Ontario
1923–1952
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Postmaster General of Canada
1905–1906
Succeeded by
Minister of Labour
1905–1906
Preceded by Minister of Justice
1906–1911
Succeeded by