Lendrum McMeans (July 30, 1859 – September 13, 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 ...

from 1910 to 1914, and was later appointed to the

Senate of Canada The Senate of Canada () is the upper house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Monarchy of Canada#Parliament (King-in-Parliament), Crown and the House of Commons of Canada, House of Commons, they compose the Bicameralism, bicameral le ...

. McMeans was a member of the Conservative Party. McMeans was born in

Brantford Brantford ( 2021 population: 104,688) is a city in Ontario, Canada, founded on the Grand River in Southwestern Ontario. It is surrounded by Brant County but is politically separate with a municipal government of its own that is fully indep ...

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 ...

(now

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 ...

), the son of Andrew McMeans, and was educated in Brantford and

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

. He received a law degree and was called to the Ontario bar in 1881. He came to Manitoba in 1882 and was called to the Manitoba bar the following year. In 1884, he married Mary Beatrice Harris. McMeans was also the president of First National Reality Co., Ltd, and was a commissioner for the revision of the Manitoba statutes in 1902. In religion, he was a member of the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...

. McMeans served on the city council for Winnipeg and was also a police commissioner and a License Commissioner for Manitoba. McMeans was elected to the Manitoba legislature in the 1910 provincial election as a member of the provincial Conservative Party, defeating former

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

leader Edward Brown by 49 votes in the constituency of

Winnipeg South Winnipeg South () is a electoral district (Canada), Canadian federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1917 to 1979, and since 1988. It covers the southernmost part of the ...

. The Conservatives won this election, and McMeans served as a backbench supporter of

Rodmond Roblin Sir Rodmond Palen Roblin (February 15, 1853 – February 16, 1937) was a businessman and politician in Manitoba, Canada. Early life and career Roblin was born in Sophiasburgh, in Prince Edward County, Canada West (later Ontario). The Robl ...

's administration for the next four years. He was defeated in the 1914 election, losing to Liberal candidate Albert B. Hudson by 98 votes in Winnipeg South "A". He attempted to return to the legislature in the 1915 election, but was resoundingly defeated by Liberal incumbent William Parrish in Winnipeg South "B". McMeans was appointed to the Senate of Canada by

prime minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Robert Borden Sir Robert Laird Borden (June 26, 1854 – June 10, 1937) was a Canadian lawyer and Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942), Conservative politician who served as the eighth prime minister of Canada from 1911 to 1920. He is best known ...

on July 26, 1917. He served until his death. He introduced at least two bills dealing with the rights of the accused. He died 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 ...

in 1941 from complications resulting from a fall. He is commemorated with McMeans Avenue in his honour.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McMeans, Lendrum 1859 births 1941 deaths Canadian senators from Manitoba Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942) senators Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba MLAs Winnipeg city councillors 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba 20th-century members of the Senate of Canada