Archibald Esplen (January 29, 1864 – June 12, 1933) was a politician in

Manitoba , image_map = Manitoba in Canada 2.svg , map_alt = Map showing Manitoba's location in the centre of Southern Canada , Label_map = yes , coordinates = , capital = Win ...

, Canada. He served in the

Legislative Assembly of Manitoba The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba (french: Assemblée législative du Manitoba) is the deliberative assembly of the Manitoba Legislature in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected ...

from 1922 to 1927, as a member of the

Manitoba Liberal Party The Manitoba Liberal Party (french: Parti libéral du Manitoba) is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late 19th century, following the province's creation in 1870. Origins and early development (to 1883) Origin ...

. He was born in Port Elgin,

Canada West The Province of Canada (or the United Province of Canada or the United Canadas) was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, in the Report on th ...

, the son of John Esplen and Sarah McLean, and was educated in

Bruce County Bruce County is a county in Southwestern Ontario, Canada comprising eight lower-tier municipalities and with a 2016 population of 66,491. It is named for James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin and 12th Earl of Kincardine, sixth Governor General of the P ...

. Esplen came to Manitoba in 1882, working as a farmhand near Minnedosa. He served in the Minnedosa company during the

North-West Rebellion The North-West Rebellion (french: Rébellion du Nord-Ouest), also known as the North-West Resistance, was a resistance by the Métis people under Louis Riel and an associated uprising by First Nations Cree and Assiniboine of the District of ...

of 1885. Esplen received a military grant near Dauphin, where he operated his own farm. In 1887, he married Mary Carmichael. He was a member of the council for the Rural Municipality of Dauphin, also serving as reeve. He won elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1922 provincial election, defeating Labour incumbent George Palmer by 83 votes in the Dauphin constituency. The Liberal Party lost this election to the

United Farmers of Manitoba The Progressive Party of Manitoba, Canada, was a political party that developed from the United Farmers of Manitoba (UFM), an agrarian movement that became politically active following World War I. See also *List of political parties in Canada ...

, and Esplen served as an opposition member of the legislature for the next five years. He was defeated in the 1927 election, finishing third against

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...

Robert Ferguson. He died at home near Dauphin.

References

Manitoba Liberal Party MLAs 1933 deaths 1864 births {{Manitoba-politician-stub