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James J. DonnellyCanadian politician of the first half of the 20th century, senator for life.
Date of Birth: 14.11.1866
Country:  Canada |
Content:
Biography of James J. Donnelly
James J. Donnelly was a Canadian politician of the first half of the 20th century and a lifelong senator. He became the youngest senator of his time and dedicated over 40 years of his life to his political career.
Early Life and Career
James J. Donnelly was born on November 14, 1866. On May 26, 1913, he received a lifetime appointment to the Canadian Senate from Prime Minister Robert Laird Borden. He represented the Bruce South district in the province of Ontario. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest senator.
Before becoming a respected politician, Donnelly tried his hand at various professions. He worked as a lumberjack, ranch owner, and manager. In 1902, he became the head of Bruce County and prior to that, he was elected as the chief judge and court secretary in the township of Greenock, Ontario.
Political Career
Donnelly acquired 2,800 acres of land and his family operated a sawmill near Chepstow. He also raised cattle. In 1895, James J. Donnelly married Julia Mcnab, the daughter of Michael Mcnab and Magdalena Brohman from Chepstow. He took over the management of his parents' old farm in Kingsbridge when they retired and moved to Kingsbridge.
After his purchase, Donnelly moved with his young family to the neighboring village of Pinkerton, where he completed the construction of a spacious white brick mansion in 1904.
James J. Donnelly began his political career relatively early. After being elected as a judge of Greenock and the governor of Bruce County, Donnelly made a name for himself at the local level. In 1904, he was elected as a member of parliament for the East Bruce riding from the Conservative Party of Canada in a by-election following the death of W.D. Cargill, from whom James had bought a plot of land for the sawmill.
Legacy and Family
Donnelly's eldest son, Frank Donnelly, followed in his father's footsteps and dedicated himself to public service, eventually reaching the position of judge in the Superior Court of Ontario. James Michael Donnelly, the son of Frank, became a councilor and judge in Goderich.
Harold Donnelly, James J. Donnelly's younger son, also served as the governor of Bruce, and his son Maurice later held the same position. Thus, three generations of the Donnelly family led the Bruce district.
James J. Donnelly's second child and only daughter, Mertis Donnelly, became a mathematics teacher and married William Flannery, a lawyer from North Bay, in 1932. In recognition of her contributions during World War II, King George VI presented her with the Order of the British Empire in 1946.
