Frederick Charles Denison CMG, MP (November 22, 1846 – April 15, 1896) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) 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 ...

militia officer, lawyer, and politician.

Biography

Born near

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

, Ontario, Denison was educated

Upper Canada College Upper Canada College (UCC) is an elite, all-boys, private school in Toronto, Ontario, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The college is widely described as the country's most prestigious preparatory school, and has produce ...

, and after completing his literary studies began

reading law Reading law was the method used in common law countries, particularly the United States, for people to prepare for and enter the legal profession before the advent of law schools. It consisted of an extended internship or apprenticeship under the ...

. He was called to the

Ontario bar The Law Society of Ontario (LSO; french: Barreau de l'Ontario) is the law society responsible for the self-regulation of lawyers and paralegals in the Canadian province of Ontario. Founded in 1797 as the Law Society of Upper Canada (LSUC; f ...

in 1870. His military experience began in 1865, when he joined the Canadian Militia as a

cornet The cornet (, ) is a brass instrument similar to the trumpet but distinguished from it by its conical bore, more compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B, though there is also a sopr ...

with the 1st Volunteer Militia Troop of Cavalry of York County (later The Governor General’s Body Guard). In 1868 he was made a lieutenant, in 1872 captain; four years later major; and in 1884 was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Denison saw active service during the Fenian raids in 1866 and in the Red River Expedition of 1870, as aide-de-camp to Lord Wolseley. He was an alderman from St. Stephens ward on the

Toronto City Council Toronto City Council is the governing body of the municipal government of Toronto, Ontario. Meeting at Toronto City Hall, it comprises 25 city councillors and the mayor of Toronto. The current term began on November 15, 2022. Structure The cur ...

from 1878 to 1883. In 1881, he was elected chairman of the executive committee. From 1884 to 1885, Denison went to

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

in command of the Canadian Voyageurs on the

Nile The Nile, , Bohairic , lg, Kiira , Nobiin language, Nobiin: Áman Dawū is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is the longest river in Africa and has historically been considered ...

employed by the Imperial Government in the

Sudan Campaign The Mahdist War ( ar, الثورة المهدية, ath-Thawra al-Mahdiyya; 1881–1899) was a war between the Mahdist Sudanese of the religious leader Muhammad Ahmad bin Abd Allah, who had proclaimed himself the "Mahdi" of Islam (the "Guided On ...

. He distinguished himself during this war, and was not only given prominent mention in the dispatches but received a medal with two clasps. In 1885 he was made a companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. He won the

West Toronto West Toronto was a federal electoral district represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1867 to 1904. It was located in the city of Toronto, in the province of Ontario. The district was created by the British North America Act of 1867 a ...

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 i ...

nomination for the 1887 federal election over three other candidates, including incumbent parliamentarian James Beaty, Jr.The candidates were Denison, Beaty, A.R. Boswell and A.P. Macdonald. D.T. Symons was also nominated, but withdrew. The result of the vote was: Denison 159, Boswell 46, Beaty 36, Macdonald 2. See "West Toronto Tories", ''The Globe'', 27 January 1887, 5. This vote is also mentioned in Ian Stewart, ''Just One Vote: Jim Walding's nomination to constitutional defeat'', (Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press), 2009, p. 7. He subsequently won a narrow victory over his

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

opponent in the general election. He was re-elected in

1891 Events January–March * January 1 ** Paying of old age pensions begins in Germany. ** A strike of 500 Hungarian steel workers occurs; 3,000 men are out of work as a consequence. **Germany takes formal possession of its new Africa ...

, and died of stomach cancer while still in office in 1896.

References

Commemorative biographical record of the county of York, Ontario
* ;Notes

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Denison, Frederick 1846 births 1896 deaths Canadian Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942) MPs Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario Toronto city councillors People of the Fenian raids People of the Mahdist War Deaths from stomach cancer Canadian lawyers admitted to the practice of law by reading law Frederick Charles Canadian Militia officers Governor General's Horse Guards Governor General's Horse Guards officers 19th-century Canadian lawyers