Samuel Merner (9 January 1823 – 11 August 1908) was a Canadian businessman and politician.

The Hon.
Samuel Merner
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Waterloo South
In office
1878–1882
Preceded byJames Young
Succeeded byJames Livingston
Senator for Hamburg, Ontario
In office
1887–1908
Appointed byJohn A. Macdonald
Personal details
Born(1823-01-09)9 January 1823
Kien, Canton of Bern, Switzerland
Died11 August 1908(1908-08-11) (aged 85)
Berlin (Kitchener), Ontario
Political partyConservative

Born in Kien, Canton of Bern, Switzerland, with the last name of Muerner or Mürner, he immigrated to Canada with his parents in 1837 settling in Waterloo County, Ontario. He later anglicized his last name to Merner.

A businessman, his career in politics started in 1857 when he became a member of the council of the village of New Hamburg, Ontario. From 1873 to 1878, he was reeve of New Hamburg and served as Warden of Waterloo County in 1878. After losing a by-election in 1878 in the Ontario provincial riding of Waterloo South, he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the federal riding of Waterloo South in the 1878 federal election. A Conservative, he was defeated in the 1882 election but was appointed to the Senate in 1887 representing the senatorial division of Hamburg, Ontario. He served until his death in 1908.

Electoral record edit

1887 Canadian federal election: Waterloo South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Livingston 2,254 54.44 +0.88
Conservative Samuel Merner 1,886 45.56 -0.92
Total valid votes 4,140 100.0
Liberal hold Swing +0.90
Source(s)
"Waterloo South, Ontario (1867-1968)". History of Federal Ridings Since 1867. Library of Parliament. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
1882 Canadian federal election: Waterloo South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Livingston 1,580 53.52 +4.28
Conservative Samuel Merner 1,372 46.48 -4.28
Total valid votes 2,952 100.0
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +4.28
Source(s)
"Waterloo South, Ontario (1867-1968)". History of Federal Ridings Since 1867. Library of Parliament. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
1878 Canadian federal election: Waterloo South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Samuel Merner 1,468 50.76
Liberal James Young 1,424 49.24
Total valid votes 2,892 100.0
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing
Source(s)
"Waterloo South, Ontario (1867-1968)". History of Federal Ridings Since 1867. Library of Parliament. Retrieved 5 September 2015.

References edit

External links edit