James Robert Stratton (May 3, 1857 – April 19, 1916) was an

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

newspaper publisher, businessman and political figure. He represented

Peterborough West Peterborough West was a federal electoral district represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1867 to 1953. It was located in the province of Ontario. It was created by the British North America Act 1867 which divided the County of Pet ...

in the

Legislative Assembly of Ontario The Legislative Assembly of Ontario (OLA; ) is the legislative chamber of the Canadian province of Ontario. Its elected members are known as Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs). Bills passed by the Legislative Assembly are given royal as ...

from 1886 to 1904 and in 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 ...

from 1908 to 1911 as a Liberal member. He was born in Millbrook, Durham County,

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

in 1857, the son of James Stratton (1830-1890), an Irish immigrant who came to Durham County, Upper Canada, in 1845, taught school for seventeen years in Clarke Township and at Ashburnham. In December 1864, James Stratton Senior purchased an interest in the Reform newspaper the ''

Peterborough Examiner ''The Peterborough Examiner'' is a newspaper that services Peterborough, Ontario and area. The paper started circulation in 1847, and is currently owned by Torstar and operated by its Metroland division. Between 1942 and 1955, it was edited by C ...

,'' forming a partnership with the editor Alexander Graham under the name "Graham & Stratton, printers and stationers." He became sole proprietor 6 November 1867 when the partnership was dissolved. The Liberal government of Alexander Mackenzie appointed him Collector of Customs at

Peterborough Peterborough ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in the City of Peterborough district in the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire, England. The city is north of London, on the River Nene. A ...

in August 1876, a position he held until his death 9 December 1890."The Late James Stratton," Peterborough Examiner, Tuesday 9 December 1890, page 4. Canada Gazette, 5 August 1876, 1. Young J.R. Stratton succeeded his father as publisher of the ''

'' in 1876 and also sold books, stationery, and wallpaper. He served as a member of the Board of Education in Peterborough. Stratton was Provincial Secretary and Registrar from 1899 to 1904. After being elected in 1908 as an M.P., he ran unsuccessfully for the same seat in the House of Commons in 1911. He married E.J. Ormond in 1881. The geographical township of Stratton in

Nipissing District Nipissing District is a district in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1858. The district seat is North Bay. In 2021, the population was 84,716. The land area is ; the population density was , making it o ...

was named after him.

Death

While in Arkansas Stratton became ill and was put under the care of Professor K. Fiege. As treatment Fiege put Stratton on thirty-six days of fasting with only water allowed. In the last 74 hours of Stratton's life, he suffered from an unstoppable hiccuping. In an effort to stop the hiccuping Fiege used a belt to tighten his chest. The incredible pain was only relieved once Stratton's wife unbuckled the strap. After his death Professor K. Fiege was arrested for manslaughter.

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* * * * * - father {{DEFAULTSORT:Stratton, James R 1857 births 1916 deaths Liberal Party of Canada MPs Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario Ontario Liberal Party MPPs Provincial secretaries of Ontario 20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada 19th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario 19th-century Canadian newspaper publishers (people) People from Peterborough, Ontario