James Joseph McCann | |
|---|---|
| Member of theCanadian Parliament forRenfrew South | |
| In office October 14, 1935 – June 9, 1957 | |
| Preceded by | Martin James Maloney |
| Succeeded by | James William Baskin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1886-03-29)March 29, 1886 Perth,Ontario, Canada |
| Died | April 11, 1961(1961-04-11) (aged 75) |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Cabinet | Minister of National War Services (1945-1948) Minister of National Revenue (1945-1957) Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys (1950) |
James Joseph McCann,PC (March 29, 1886 – April 11, 1961) was aCanadian politician, born inPerth, Ontario, son of John A. McCann, a mason and licence-inspector, and Mary Hourigan, who were both of Irish descent.[1]
Although he consistently reported his own birth-date as March 29, 1887, he was in fact born exactly one year earlier, and was originally named asJames Parnell McCann. His birth registration gives this name in full, with the 1886 date,[2] the entry for his parents' household in the 1901 census gives his name as James P. McCann and likewise supports the 1886 date,[3] and the record of his first marriage in 1913 calls him James Parnell McCann.[4] There is no possible doubt that the politician was the James Parnell McCann born in 1886, as his parents and wives are named in two different biographical dictionaries published during his own lifetime. It is possible he came to be known as JamesJoseph McCann following the early death of a younger brother named Joseph, born in 1895.[5]
McCann took M.D. and C.M. degrees from Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, in 1909 (graduating with the gold medal) and a post-graduate degree in medicine from the University of Chicago in 1911. Prior to entering political life, he practiced as a physician at Hamilton and at Renfrew, Ontario, serving for more than thirty years as Coroner for Renfrew County. He was first elected to theHouse of Commons of Canada representing the riding ofRenfrew South in the1935 federal election.
ALiberal, he was re-elected in1940,1945,1949, and1953. He was defeated in1957. He held the following ministerial positions in the cabinets ofMackenzie King andLouis St. Laurent: Minister of National War Services,Minister of National Revenue, and Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys.
His death notice in theDaily Star states, "As finance minister in the immediate post-war years, he was charged with the responsibility of re-settling Canada's economy and was one of the first officials to warn of the danger of too-close economic ties with the U.S." His death notice in theGlobe and Mail states, "As Revenue Minister he watched Government income soar to record peacetime levels and took a personal interest in theCanadian Broadcasting Corporation, which he had helped reorganize in 1941.... During his political career Dr. McCann was an early advocate in the Liberal Party for government health programs, many of which later became realities." McCann was twice married, but had no children.