Henry William McKenney

Henry William McKenney (February 24, 1848 – March 11, 1921) was a politician from Alberta, Canada.

McKenney was born in Ontario, the son of a merchant and sailor. After attending schooling, he moved to Manitoba, where soon after he took part in the fur trade. He would briefly move back to Ontario, briefly working in the naval industry before working in the fur trade once again, until he ended up in the Northwest Territories while on a prospecting expedition. There he settled and established a mercantile business in St. Albert, where he settled and became one of its pioneer citizens, serving as the town's postmaster. After selling his business in 1903 and embarking on a trip for the benefit of his health, McKenney settled in Edmonton, where he would own several properties, including the McKenney Building. When Alberta became a province In 1905, he successfully ran for the newly formed Legislative Assembly of Alberta. He would win election twice more to the assembly, in 1909 and 1913, all times as a Liberal. He died in Edmonton in 1921.

Early life He was born in Amherstburg, Essex County, Ontario, in 1848, a son of Augustus and Matilda (née Grandin) McKenney. His mother was of French ancestry from Normandy, France, and his father, of Irish ancestry, was a mariner and merchant. Augustus McKenney came to Canada as a United Empire Loyalist, originally from Detroit, Michigan. McKenney attended primary Catholic and public schooling in his birthplace, until moving to the Red River Colony around 1862. Initially taking up the study of medicine, he soon found himself restless and entered the fur trade. After working in the industry for a couple years, including two years in his family's business, the McKenney family would return home to Amherstburg. There McKenney would go into the marine business, gaining employment with a Detroit company, working as a navigator and eventually receiving his mariner certification in 1869. Around this time, he would also embark his first trip to present-day Western Canada. and later in his father Augustus' business. He would operate it until 1903, when he sold the business. On January 3, 1885, he and Edmonton businessman Alex Taylor would make the first phone call on the first long distance phone system in the Northwest, from McKenney's store to Taylor's office in Edmonton, away. He also played a part in gaining village status for St. Albert, which was incorporated in December 1899.

Political career

A lifelong Liberal, McKenney was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the 1905 Alberta general election in the provincial electoral district of St. Albert. In this election he won as an Independent Liberal, but joined the Liberal caucus.

After redistribution of riding boundaries in the 1909 Alberta general election McKenney was returned to the assembly by acclamation in the brand new riding of Pembina to a second term in office. He was nominated under the Liberal banner in that election.

He won his third term in office again in a new riding in the controversial Clearwater district. The district was controversial because it was created with only 74 enumerated residents. His election victory was not an easy one and he won the election by a single vote, and won only 39% of the popular vote cast. He retired before the 1917 Alberta general election. During his time in office, he was well-regarded as a man of strong personality.

On January 12, 1885, Henry Willam McKenney married Mary Risdale, an English immigrant from Manchester.

Death and legacy McKenney died on March 11, 1921, at a hospital in Edmonton, after a long illness. He was survived by his widow and seven children (three sons and four daughters). The Edmonton Bulletin lamented his death, describing him as a "genuine scholar" and "courteous and gallant gentleman", stating that "his death removes from the rapidly disappearing group of old timers, who labored so lovingly the Edmonton ... might prosper".

Electoral history

1905 general election

1909 general election Turnout N/ASwingAffiliationCandidateVotes%PartyPersonalLiberalHenry W. McKenneyAcclaimed—*Total——Rejected, Spoiled and DeclinedUnknownUnknown Eligible ElectorsLiberal pickup new districtSwing N/A

1913 general election