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Richard Ruston

1919 – 2002

Canadian politician

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About Richard Ruston

Lived 1919 – 2002 (aged 82). Richard Ruston was a Canadian politician.

Richard Fletcher Ruston (August 28, 1919 – May 19, 2002) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1967 to 1985, as a member of the Liberal Party.

Background Ruston was born in Essex County in southwestern Ontario, and educated in the area. He was manager of the Essex County Medical Co-op. He and his wife Shirley lived in Essex where they raised five children.

Politics Ruston was a councillor in Maidstone Township from 1960 to 1962, reeve of the community from 1963 to 1968, and an Essex County councillor. He was re-elected in the 1971 election by roughly the same margin, and won with larger majorities in 1975, 1977, and 1981. He served as Liberal Party whip for a period. The Progressive Conservative Party governed Ontario during this period, and Ruston was an opposition member for his legislative career. He was primarily a defender of farmer's interests.

Ruston announced that he would retire from the legislature in mid-1985, and was not a candidate in that year's provincial election.

Later life He died in 2002 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Fellow MPP and friend Sean Conway described him as a follower of Ontario's Clear Grit tradition, and a believer that "the best government [...] is the smaller unit closest to the people".

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Positions held
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
Also known as
Richard Fletcher Ruston

People in Richard Ruston's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Richard Ruston's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Richard Ruston?

Canadian politician (1919-2002)

When was Richard Ruston born?

Richard Ruston was born on 28 August 1919 in Essex County.

When did Richard Ruston die?

Richard Ruston died on 19 May 2002 in Essex County.

What was Richard Ruston's occupation?

Richard Ruston was a politician.

What nationality was Richard Ruston?

Richard Ruston was Canadian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Richard Ruston

· Wikidata: Q7328792

· DBpedia: Dick Ruston

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Richard Ruston. https://biography.guide/richard-ruston/

MLA: "Richard Ruston." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/richard-ruston/.

Chicago: "Richard Ruston." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/richard-ruston/.

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