John Nesbitt Kirchhoffer (May 5, 1848 – December 22, 1914) was a

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

politician. Born in

Ballyvourney Ballyvourney ( , meaning 'Town of the Beloved', also spelled ) is a Gaeltacht village in southwest County Cork, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Ballyvourney is also a civil parish in the Barony (Ireland), barony of Muskerry West, and an ecclesiast ...

County Cork County Cork () is the largest and the southernmost Counties of Ireland, county of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, named after the city of Cork (city), Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster ...

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

, the son of the Reverend Richard B. Kirchhoffer, Rector of Ballyvourney Parish, he was educated at

Marlborough College Marlborough College is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English private boarding school) for pupils aged 13 to 18 in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England. It was founded as Marlborough School in 1843 by the Dean of Manchester, George ...

and came to

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

in 1864. Kirchhoffer served as an Ensign in the Fenian raids in 1866 and subsequently was Captain of one of the Companies of the Port Hope (46th) Battalion. He was called to the Ontario Bar in October 1871 and practiced law in

Port Hope, Ontario Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and west of Kingston, Ontario, Kingston. It is at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County, Onta ...

, with his uncle, Nesbitt Kirchhoffer. He moved to

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 ...

in 1883, and was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1884. Kirchhoffer founded the town of

Souris, Manitoba Souris (2021 population: 1,970) is an unincorporated urban community in the Municipality of Souris-Glenwood within the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba that held town status prior to the 2015 Manitoba municipal ...

, and the Plum Creek settlement, and served as Reeve and Mayor of Souris. He was a member of 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 ...

from 1886 to 1888 representing Brandon West. Kirchhoffer also served on the Western Judicial District Board, representing Brandon and Dennis counties. He was called to the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

on December 16, 1892, on the advice of

John Sparrow David Thompson Sir John Sparrow David Thompson (November 10, 1845 – December 12, 1894) was a Canadian lawyer, judge and politician who served as the fourth prime minister of Canada from 1892 until his death in 1894. He had previously been fifth premier o ...

representing the

senatorial division Canadian Senate divisions refers to two aspects of the Senate of Canada. First, it refers to the division of Canada into four regional Senate divisions of 24 senators each, as set out in section 22 of the Constitution Act, 1867.The Constitution Ac ...

of Selkirk, Manitoba. 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 ...

, he was Chairman of the Senate Divorce Committee in 1895 and 1896, and of the Senate Contingent Committee in 1897. He served 22 years until his death in 1914. Kirchhoffer was also a keen cricketer, representing

in a match against the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

on the Germantown Cricket Club Ground, Nicetown, Philadelphia in 1880, scoring one run and taking two catches in a drawn match. He served as president of the Ontario Cricket Club and of the Canadian Zingari cricket club. In 1881 and 1882, Kirchhoffer captained Canadian International cricket teams which played against the United States.

References

Sources

* Adams, P. (2010) ''A history of Canadian cricket'', lulu.com. . * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kirchhoffer, John 1848 births 1914 deaths Politicians from County Cork Cricketers from County Cork People of the Fenian raids Canadian senators from Manitoba Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942) senators Irish emigrants to pre-Confederation Ontario Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba MLAs 19th-century mayors of places in Manitoba People educated at Marlborough College Immigrants to the Province of Canada People from Souris, Manitoba Canadian cricketers People from Ballyvourney 19th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba 19th-century members of the Senate of Canada 20th-century members of the Senate of Canada