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Rupert Mearse Wells

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Rupert Mearse Wells
Member of Parliament
for Bruce East
In office
1883–1887
Preceded byNew riding
Succeeded byHenry Cargill
Ontario MPP
In office
1872–1882
Preceded byEdward Blake
Succeeded byHamilton Parke O'Connor
ConstituencyBruce South
4th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
In office
1874–1879
Preceded byJames Currie
Succeeded byCharles Clarke
Personal details
Born(1835-11-28)November 28, 1835
Prescott County, Upper Canada
DiedMay 11, 1902(1902-05-11) (aged 66)
Political partyLiberal
OccupationLawyer

Rupert Mearse Wells (November 28, 1835 – May 11, 1902) was speaker of the Legislature of Ontario in 1874 to 1879 and served as Liberal MLA for Bruce South from 1872 to 1882. He represented Bruce East in the House of Commons of Canada from 1883 to 1887 as a Liberal.

He was born in Prescott County in Upper Canada in 1835 and attended the University of Toronto. He studied law, was called to the bar in 1857 and entered the practice of law in L'Orignal. He joined the law practice of Edward Blake in 1860 and left that firm to partner with Angus Morrison in 1870. He served as attorney for York County and the city of Toronto in 1872. He was elected to the provincial legislature in an 1872 by-election after Edward Blake resigned to retain his seat in the federal parliament. In 1876, he was named Queen's Counsel.

Electoral history

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Ontario provincial by-election, September 21, 1872: Bruce South
Resignation of Edward Blake
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Rupert Mearse Wells 1,782 52.14
Conservative Mr. Brocelbank 1,636 47.86
Total valid votes 3,418 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing  
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario[1]: 34 
1875 Ontario general election: Bruce South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rupert Mearse Wells 1,864 65.87 +13.73
Conservative D.W. Ross 966 34.13 −13.73
Turnout 2,830 49.26
Eligible voters 5,745
Liberal hold Swing +13.73
Source: Elections Ontario[2]
1879 Ontario general election: Bruce South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rupert Mearse Wells 2,866 50.62 −15.25
Conservative Mr. Baird 2,796 49.38 +15.25
Total valid votes 5,662 72.67 +23.41
Eligible voters 7,791
Liberal hold Swing −15.25
Source: Elections Ontario[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lewis, Roderick (1968). Centennial Edition of a History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario, 1867–1968. OCLC 1052682.
  2. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1875. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. 1879. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
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