John Bell Laughlin (December 21, 1879 – August 19, 1941) was a politician in

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

, Canada. He served in the

Legislative Assembly of Manitoba The Legislative Assembly of 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 to this assembly at List of Manitoba genera ...

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 ...

representative from 1927 to 1932, and again from 1936 to 1941. His father was also a member of the assembly from 1879 to 1881. He was born near Miami, Manitoba, the son of

Andrew Laughlin Andrew Laughlin (October 8, 1844 – March 25, 1916) was a banker and political figure in Manitoba. He represented Dufferin North from 1879 to 1881 in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as a Conservative. He was born in Ontario and came t ...

and Rachel Bell. His parents had come to Manitoba from Ontario in 1877. Laughtlin was educated in

Cartwright Cartwright may refer to: * Cartwright (occupation), a tradesperson skilled in the making and repairing of carts or wagons * Cartwright (surname), including the list of people Places ; Australia * Cartwright, New South Wales ; Canada * Cart ...

, at St. John's College 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 ...

. He articled in law, was called to the Manitoba bar in 1905 and practised law in Cartwright. In 1909, he married Harriet Margaret McKay. Laughlin served as reeve for the

Rural Municipality of Roblin The Rural Municipality of Roblin is a former rural municipality (RM) in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was originally incorporated as a rural municipality on November 15, 1902. It ceased on January 1, 2015 as a result of its provincially ...

. He became the solicitor for the Roblin municipality in 1920 and held this position until his death. Laughlin was also solicitor for the

Bank of Toronto The Bank of Toronto was a Canadian bank that was founded in 1855 by a group of grain dealers and flour millers. On February 1, 1955, it merged with the Dominion Bank to form the Toronto-Dominion Bank. Its first president was James Grant Chewett, ...

. He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1927 provincial election, defeating Progressive incumbent Andrew E. Foster by 255 votes in the constituency of

Killarney Killarney ( ; , meaning 'church of sloes') is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The town is on the northeastern shore of Lough Leane, part of Killarney National Park, and is home to St Mary's Cathedral, Killar ...

. He lost to Foster by 90 votes in the 1932 election, but defeated him by 509 votes in the campaign of

1936 Events January–February * January 20 – The Prince of Wales succeeds to the throne of the United Kingdom as King Edward VIII, following the death of his father, George V, at Sandringham House. * January 28 – Death and state funer ...

. The Conservative Party was Manitoba's primary opposition party during this period, and Laughlin sat with his party caucus on the opposition benches. In 1940, the Conservatives joined with the governing Liberal-Progressives in a

coalition government A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a government by political parties that enter into a power-sharing arrangement of the executive. Coalition governments usually occur when no single party has achieved an absolute majority after an ...

. Laughlin became a backbench supporter of

John Bracken John Bracken (22 June 1883 – 18 March 1969) was a Canadian agronomist and politician who was the 11th and longest-serving premier of Manitoba (1922–1943) and later the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (1942–194 ...

's government, and was re-elected in the 1941 provincial election. He again defeated Andrew E. Foster, who was by this time a dissident Liberal opposing the coalition. Laughlin died at home in Cartwright of

encephalitis Encephalitis is inflammation of the Human brain, brain. The severity can be variable with symptoms including reduction or alteration in consciousness, aphasia, headache, fever, confusion, a stiff neck, and vomiting. Complications may include se ...

several months after the election at the age of 62. His granddaughter

Linda McIntosh Linda Laughlin McIntosh (born December 14, 1943) is a former politician in Manitoba, Canada. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1990 to 1999, and a cabinet minister for most of this period. Among other awards and recog ...

and great-grandson

Hugh McFadyen Hugh Daniel McFadyen (born 31 May 1967) is a lawyer and politician in Manitoba, Canada. From 2006 to 2012, he was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, and Leader of the Opposition in the Manitoba legislature. Followin ...

also served in the Manitoba assembly.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Laughlin, John 1879 births 1941 deaths Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba MLAs University of Manitoba alumni 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba