James Gray Turgeon
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James Gray Turgeon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta | |
| In office March 25, 1913 – July 18, 1921 | |
| Preceded by | James Lowery |
| Succeeded by | Charles Wright |
| Constituency | Ribstone |
| Member of the Canadian House of Commons | |
| In office October 14, 1935 – June 11, 1945 | |
| Preceded by | John Fraser |
| Succeeded by | William Irvine |
| Constituency | Cariboo |
| Canadian Senator | |
| In office January 27, 1947 – February 14, 1964 | |
| Constituency | Cariboo, British Columbia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 7, 1879 |
| Died | February 14, 1964 (aged 84) |
| Party | Liberal |
| Parent | Onésiphore Turgeon |
| Occupation | broker, soldier and politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Branch/service | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1918 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
James Gray Turgeon (October 7, 1879 – February 14, 1964) was a broker, soldier, and provincial and federal level politician from Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1913 to 1921 sitting with the Alberta Liberal caucus in government. During that time he also served in World War I.
Turgeon had a long career in federal politics. He served as a Member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1935 to 1947 and he also served as a Canadian Senator from 1947 to his death in 1964 sitting with the federal Liberal caucus in both houses.
Turgeon was born on October 7, 1879, in Bathurst, New Brunswick. His father was Onésiphore Turgeon a prominent federal politician.[1] He had one brother William who also became a prominent politician.
Alberta politics
Turgeon ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature for the first time in the 1913 Alberta general election as a Liberal candidate. He defeated Conservative candidate William Blair to pick up the new Ribstone electoral district for his party.[2]
During the 3rd Legislature, the Assembly passed An Act amending The Election Act respecting Members of the Legislative Assembly on Active Service (Bill 58) which acclaimed members of the assembly in the 1917 election who were serving in armed forces during the First World War. The Act listed eleven members of the assembly and provided those members were deemed nominated and elected as a member of the 4th Alberta Legislature, effectively being acclaimed in the 1917 election, including James Turgeon, who served as a lieutenant in the Canadian Army 233rd Battalion and later 258th Battalion during the war.[3][4][5]
Turgeon ran for a third term in the 1921 Alberta general election. He was defeated in a landslide by United Farmers of Alberta candidate Charles Wright.[6]
World War I
Turgeon enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force while he was still a member of the Alberta Legislature in 1914. He served as a lieutenant in the army until 1918. Turgeon spent two months overseas in England and accompanied Pierre-Édouard Blondin on a ten-day visit to France before returning to Canada. Turgeon was struck from the strength of the Canadian Expeditionary Force on January 21, 1918, for reason of being "Surplus to Requirements".[3]