Francis Spence

Francis Stephens Spence (March 29, 1850 — March 8, 1917) was an Irish-Canadian politician, prohibitionist, teacher, and journalist.

Spence was born in County Donegal, Ireland, one of 12 children. His family emigrated to Canada West in 1861 where his father, Jacob Spence, became involved with the temperance movement, becoming secretary of the Ontario Temperance and Prohibitory League and giving speeches throughout the province. Francis and his siblings became involved in the movement as children, helping their father write and print pamphlets.

Spence became active in the Liberal Party and campaigned for municipal office. He served as school trustee from 1887 to 1888. He campaigned unsuccessfully for an aldermanic seat on Toronto City Council in 1894 on a platform opposing the operation of streetcars on Sundays. He would be elected to city council subsequently, serving in as an alderman in 1896–97, 1899–1900, 1902–5, and 1914 and on the Toronto Board of Control in 1904–5, 1908, 1910–11, and 1915, also serving as deputy mayor in 1911.