Robert Smeaton White | |
|---|---|
| Member of theCanadian Parliament forCardwell | |
| In office 1888–1895 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas White |
| Succeeded by | William Stubbs |
| Member of theCanadian Parliament forMount Royal | |
| In office 1925–1935 | |
| Preceded by | District was created in 1924 |
| Succeeded by | William Allen Walsh |
| Member of theCanadian Parliament forSaint-Antoine—Westmount | |
| In office 1935–1940 | |
| Preceded by | District was created in 1933 |
| Succeeded by | Douglas Abbott |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1856-03-15)15 March 1856 Peterborough, Canada West |
| Died | 5 December 1944(1944-12-05) (aged 88) |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Residence(s) | Westmount, Quebec |
| Occupation | Civil Servant |
| Profession | Journalist |
Robert Smeaton White (15 March 1856 – 5 December 1944) was aCanadian journalist and political figure, and civil servant. In theHouse of Commons of theParliament of Canadahe representedCardwell from 1888 to 1895,Mount Royal from 1925 to 1935 andSaint-Antoine—Westmount from 1935 to 1940 as aConservative member.[1] He was a civil servant for almost 22 years, serving as Montreal's Collector of Customs from 1896 to 1917. He was a journalist, and became the editor ofThe Gazette in 1917, and remained in that postion until he ran for political office again in 1925. He died at his home in Westmont, Quebec in late 1944.
He was born inPeterborough,Canada West in 1856,[1] the son ofThomas White and Esther Vine.[2] His post-secondary education was atMcGill University. In 1882, he married Ruth McDougall. In 1888, he married Annie Barclay after the death of his first wife.[3] His second wife pre-deceased him on 20 October 1944.[4] He died inWestmount on 5 December 1944, at the age of 88.[5]
He worked for a wholesale merchant inMontreal and then theBank of Montreal, before joining the The Gazette in 1884 as a "cub" or inexperiencedjournalist.[5] White later became chief editor for the paper in 1917.[4]
He was first elected to theHouse of Commons of Canada in the 3 October 1888 by-election held in thesouthern Ontario Cardwell electoral district.[6] The by-election occurred because the electoral district's member of parliament, his father, died in office.[7]
He resigned his seat in October 1895, because the Conservative government was about to table legislation related to theManitoba Schools Question, which he objected to (funding for minority separate schools).[8]
In the mid-1920s, he again entered federal politics and won election to the House of Commons from the Montreal electoral district ofMount Royal. White was theDoyen, or Dean, of the House of Commons when he ran unsuccessfully as a member of theNational Government Party inSaint-Antoine—Westmount in 1940.[9]
Soon after his October 1895 resignation from parliament, newspapers speculated that he would be appointed by the federal government to the position of Collector of Customs at Montreal.[10] The federal cabinet, by anOrder in Council, appointed him Collector of Customs at Montreal on 31 December 1895.[11] He was sworn in on 4 January 1896.[12]
