James Herbert Stitt (July 25, 1891 – November 29, 1958) was a Canadian politician and lawyer. Stitt was born in

Picton, Ontario Picton is an unincorporated community located in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Prince Edward County in southeastern Ontario, roughly east of Toronto. It is the county's largest community and former seat located at the southwestern end of Picto ...

and was educated at Queen's University and the

University of Manitoba The University of Manitoba (U of M, UManitoba, or UM) is a public research university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1877, it is the first university of Western Canada. Both by total student enrolment and campus area, the University of ...

Law School. After graduating he practiced law in

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

, Manitoba. During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

he joined the

Canadian Expeditionary Force The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF; French: ''Corps expéditionnaire canadien'') was the expeditionary warfare, expeditionary field force of Canada during the First World War. It was formed on August 15, 1914, following United Kingdom declarat ...

and served in

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

with the 6th Field Company of the Canadian Engineers and the Canadian Field Artillery. He gained notoriety during 1927 as the defense attorney for American serial killer Earle Nelson. He was elected to the

House of Commons of Canada The House of Commons of Canada () is the lower house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Monarchy of Canada#Parliament (King-in-Parliament), Crown and the Senate of Canada, they comprise the Bicameralism, bicameral legislature of Ca ...

in the 1930 federal election as a

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

representing Selkirk and served for five years. He did not stand for re-election in 1935 after being appointed to the Civil Service Commission, with which he served for a decade.

External links

Manitoba Historical Society biography
* 1891 births 1958 deaths Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942) MPs Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Manitoba People from Prince Edward County, Ontario 20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada {{Manitoba-MP-stub