Thomas Ballantyne (politician)

Thomas Ballantyne (August 13, 1829 – June 29, 1908) was a Canadian politician and Speaker of the Ontario Legislature.

Thomas Ballantyne
Ontario MPP
In office 1875–1894
Preceded by	Thomas B. Guest
Succeeded by	John McNeill
Constituency	Perth South
7th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
In office 1891–1894
Preceded by	Jacob Baxter
Succeeded by	William Balfour
Personal details
Born	(1829-08-13)August 13, 1829 Peebles, Scotland
Died	June 29, 1908(1908-06-29) (aged 78) Stratford, Ontario
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Mary Ballantyne
Occupation	Businessman

Ballantyne was born in Peebles, Scotland, and immigrated to Canada in 1852. He made his fortune as a cheese manufacturer, becoming successful enough to be elected president of the Dairyman's Association. He contested the riding of Perth North in the 1871 provincial election as a Liberal but was defeated. After declining the federal Liberal nomination in the 1872 federal election, he stood in the 1875 provincial election for Perth South and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal by a margin of 180 votes.

Ballantyne was re-elected on four successive occasions. In 1891, he became Speaker of the legislature and was the first Speaker to preside in the new legislative buildings at Queen's Park. He retired from public life after his defeat in the 1894 provincial election.

Electoral history

1871 Ontario general election: Perth North
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Andrew Monteith	1,630	57.88	+0.30
	Liberal	Thomas Ballantyne	1,186	42.12	−0.30
Turnout			2,816	68.20	−4.61
Eligible voters			4,129
	Conservative hold		Swing		+0.30
Source: Elections Ontario

1875 Ontario general election: Perth South
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Thomas Ballantyne	1,508	53.23	+3.83
	Conservative	G. Leversage	1,325	46.77	−3.83
Total valid votes			2,833	70.98	−1.01
Eligible voters			3,991
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing		+3.83
Source: Elections Ontario

1879 Ontario general election: Perth South
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Thomas Ballantyne	1,759	55.00	+1.77
	Conservative	Mr. Brunner	1,439	45.00	−1.77
Total valid votes			3,198	65.67	−5.32
Eligible voters			4,870
	Liberal hold		Swing		+1.77
Source: Elections Ontario

External links

• "Thomas Ballantyne". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.
• Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history