Richard Gardiner Willis (February 10, 1865
-February 1929
) was a politician in
Manitoba
, image_map = Manitoba in Canada 2.svg
, map_alt = Map showing Manitoba's location in the centre of Southern Canada
, Label_map = yes
, coordinates =
, capital = Win ...
, Canada. He was the leader of the
Manitoba Conservative Party
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba (french: Parti progressiste-conservateur du Manitoba) is a centre-right political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is currently the governing party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, after winnin ...
from 1919 to 1922,
and served in the
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba (french: Assemblée législative du 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 ...
from 1922 until his death.
Born in
Lombardy,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
, Willis was educated at
Smiths Falls
Smiths Falls is a town in Eastern Ontario, Canada, southwest of Ottawa. As of the 2021 census it has a population of 9,254. It is in the Census division for Lanark County, but is separated from the county. The Rideau Canal waterway passes th ...
High School and the
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institu ...
. He later moved to Manitoba, and worked as a farmer. In 1891, he married Ella French. Willis was reeve of the
Rural Municipality of Morton
The Rural Municipality of Morton is a former rural municipality (RM) in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was originally incorporated as a rural municipality on November 1, 1890. It ceased on January 1, 2015, as a result of its provincially ma ...
and mayor of
Boissevain.
In 1915, he co-nominated
James Albert Manning Aikins
Sir James Albert Manning Aikins (December 10, 1851 – March 1, 1929) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was the leader of the Manitoba Conservative Party in the provincial election of 1915, and later served as the province's ninth Lie ...
to become the new leader of the provincial Conservative Party.
Despite having little political experience, Willis was chosen leader of the Manitoba Conservatives on November 6, 1919, defeating future leader
Major Fawcett Taylor. His victory was considered an upset, and can probably be credited to the increasingly strong presence of organized farmers in Manitoba. Some believe Conservative delegates were influenced by the recent election of
Ernest Drury's
United Farmers United Farmers may refer to:
*The United Farmers' MPs in the Canadian House of Commons who founded the Progressive Party of Canada in 1920
*United Farmers of Alberta, a political party which governed Alberta from 1921 to 1935 and also elected membe ...
in
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
.
The Conservative Party had governed Manitoba from 1900 to 1915, but was sidelined by the emergence of farmer and labour radicalism in the late 1910s. It emerged as the fourth-largest parliamentary group in the
1920 election, behind the Liberals, Farmer candidates and Labour. Willis sought election in
Turtle Mountain, but lost to incumbent Liberal
George McDonald by 14 votes.
He technically retained the leadership of the Manitoba Conservative Party until April 1922, but did not play a significant role in the party after his defeat.
John Thomas Haig
John Thomas Haig, (December 15, 1877 – October 23, 1962) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as parliamentary leader of the Manitoba Conservative Party in 1921–22.
Born in Colborne, Ontario, Haig received his BA from th ...
served as the party's leader in the legislature in 1921–22.
Willis ran as the federal
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
candidate in
Souris for the
federal election of 1921, but placed a poor second in a two-way race.
He stepped down as provincial Conservative leader just before the
1922 provincial election, and was replaced by Taylor.
Ironically, Willis's personal electoral fortunes improved after his resignation as leader. He was elected for Turtle Mountain in the
1922 provincial election, and was re-elected in
1927
Events January
* January 1 – The British Broadcasting ''Company'' becomes the British Broadcasting ''Corporation'', when its Royal Charter of incorporation takes effect. John Reith becomes the first Director-General.
* January 7
* ...
.
Both elections were won by the
United Farmers of Manitoba
The Progressive Party of Manitoba, Canada, was a political party that developed from the United Farmers of Manitoba (UFM), an agrarian movement that became politically active following World War I.
See also
*List of political parties in Canada
...
, and Willis sat with the Conservatives in opposition. He was still a member of the legislature when he died in
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749 ...
in February 1929.
His son,
Errick Willis
Errick French Willis (March 21, 1896 – January 9, 1967) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as leader of the province's Conservative Party between 1936 and 1954, and was responsible for beginning and ending the party's alli ...
, served as leader of the Manitoba Conservative Party from 1936 to 1954.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Willis, Richard
1865 births
1929 deaths
Leaders of the Manitoba Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba MLAs
Mayors of places in Manitoba
People from Leeds and Grenville United Counties