Absalom Greeley
Absalom Greeley | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
| In office 1867–1870 | |
| Preceded by | Riding established |
| Succeeded by | William Anderson |
| Constituency | Prince Edward |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 18, 1823 |
| Died | October 28, 1885 (aged 62) Kansas City, Missouri |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Millicent Ann Roblin
(m. 1846) |
| Children | 9 |
Absalom Greeley (April 18, 1823 – October 28, 1885) was the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Prince Edward in the 1st Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1867 to 1870.[1] Greeley ran on the political platform of the Reform movement; however he was thought to be a Yankee Tory; a conservative with American origins in the American Whig Party. He is also supportive of the Family Compact which is not consistent with a Reform platform.[2]
Origins[edit]
Absalom Greeley is believed to have emigrated from Maine, U.S.A. with his parents in the early half of the 19th-century. His father had been a surveyor there. Although largely self-educated, he is credited with good learning and significant intellect.[2] His place of residence after 1881 is unknown.
Political history[edit]
In 1869, he is reported in Toronto newspapers as supporting the extravagant expenses at the Governors residence in an attempt to curry favour with the Family Compact.[3] He is also reported to have tried to sell his party nomination for a county seat as Reeve; an attempt which eventually failed and became public knownledge.[3] Greeley did not run in the 1871 election. In 1881, Greeley was charged with forgery in the town of Picton, Prince Edward County.[4]
Parliamentary Work[edit]
As an MPP, he worked on the following Committees:
Standing Committees[edit]
- Standing Committee on Printing
- Standing Committee on Standing Orders
Select Committees[edit]
- Select Committee to inquire into and report upon the endowment and utility of Upper Canada College and its relationship to the educational system
- Select Committee to enquire into the usefulness and cost of wooden railways as a means of furthering the settlement of the country
- Select Committee to consider Bill 33 Respecting Union Houses and Religious Worship
- Select Committee to consider Bill 14 registration of births and deaths and marriages
- Select Committee appointed to examine in to the working of the common and grammar school system of Ontario
- Select Committee to consider Bill 30, An Act for the Encouragement of Agriculture, Horticulture, Arts and Manufactures
- Select Committee to Revise the Standing Orders of this House Affecting Bills relating to Railways, Canals and Telegraphs
- Special Committee to consider the Municipal and Assessments Act
Electoral history[edit]
| 1867 Ontario general election: Prince Edward | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
| Liberal | Absalom Greeley | 1,605 | 58.66 | |||||
| Conservative | Mr. Solmes | 1,131 | 41.34 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 2,736 | 76.53 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 3,575 | |||||||
| Liberal pickup new district. | ||||||||
| Source: Elections Ontario[5] | ||||||||
References[edit]
- ^ "Census of Canada 1871". Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
- ^ a b "Sarnia Observer: The Prince Edward Election". Retrieved April 17, 2011.
- ^ a b "The Globe February 23, 1869". Retrieved April 17, 2011.
- ^ "Defendant: Greeley, Absalom; Charged with Forgery: Prince Edward County RG 22-392". Retrieved April 17, 2011.
- ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1867. Retrieved March 15, 2024.