Joseph James Duffus
Encyclopedia
Joseph James Duffus was a Canadian merchant and parliamentarian.
Born and raised in Peterborough, Ontario
, Duffus was a graduate of the Royal School of Cavalry and Royal School of Infantry
and in his career was a soldier, farmer and businessman.
He served with the 3rd Prince of Wales Canadian Dragoons and the 247th Regiment and with the Canadian Coronation Contingent
and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel
and then colonel
.
Duffus was a merchant and building contractor by trade and was active in politics and was elected to Peterborough's city council
in 1909 after two unsuccessful attempts. He served as an alderman for six years before being elected Mayor in 1916 and 1917. He also served as president of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce
.
He attempted to win a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1926
and 1930 federal elections
but was defeated in both attempts.
He was elected the Liberal
Member of Parliament for Peterborough West
in the 1935 federal election
and was summoned to the Canadian Senate
in 1940 prior to the 1940 election
in order to free his seat up for Roland Maxwell Glover, publisher of the Peterborough Examiner
; Glover was defeated in the general election.
Duffus died in office in 1957 after a lengthy illness. His two year absence from the Senate prior to his death led to an attempt to have the Senator removed from office under the provisions of the BNA Act that allowed a Senate seat to be declared vacant if its occupant missed two successive sessions.
Born and raised in Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
, Duffus was a graduate of the Royal School of Cavalry and Royal School of Infantry
Royal School of Infantry
Royal School of Infantry was a post-secondary school in Manitoba and was a member of the Manitoba Rugby Football Union, a league that preceded the Canadian Football League....
and in his career was a soldier, farmer and businessman.
He served with the 3rd Prince of Wales Canadian Dragoons and the 247th Regiment and with the Canadian Coronation Contingent
Canadian Coronation Contingent
The Canadian Coronation Contingent is a guard of honour, composed of members of the Canadian Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, assembled distinctly for participation in the coronation ceremonies of the Canadian monarch in London, England...
and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and then colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
.
Duffus was a merchant and building contractor by trade and was active in politics and was elected to Peterborough's city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
in 1909 after two unsuccessful attempts. He served as an alderman for six years before being elected Mayor in 1916 and 1917. He also served as president of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
.
He attempted to win a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 1926
Canadian federal election, 1926
The Canadian federal election of 1926 was held on September 14 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 16th Parliament of Canada. The election was called following an event known as the King-Byng Affair...
and 1930 federal elections
Canadian federal election, 1930
The Canadian federal election of 1930 was held on July 28, 1930 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 17th Parliament of Canada...
but was defeated in both attempts.
He was elected the Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
Member of Parliament for Peterborough West
Peterborough West
Peterborough West was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1953. It was located in the province of Ontario. It was created by the British North America Act of 1867 which divided the County of Peterborough was into two ridings...
in the 1935 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1935
The Canadian federal election of 1935 was held on October 14, 1935 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 18th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal Party of William Lyon Mackenzie King won a majority government, defeating Prime Minister R.B. Bennett's Conservative Party.The central...
and was summoned to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
in 1940 prior to the 1940 election
Canadian federal election, 1940
The Canadian federal election of 1940 was the 19th general election in Canadian history. It was held March 26, 1940 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 19th Parliament of Canada...
in order to free his seat up for Roland Maxwell Glover, publisher of the Peterborough Examiner
Peterborough Examiner
The Peterborough Examiner is a newspaper that services Peterborough, Ontario and area. The paper started circulation in 1847, and is currently owned by the Sun Media, division of Quebecor Media. At one time, it was edited by Canadian man of letters Robertson Davies. It is the only daily newspaper...
; Glover was defeated in the general election.
Duffus died in office in 1957 after a lengthy illness. His two year absence from the Senate prior to his death led to an attempt to have the Senator removed from office under the provisions of the BNA Act that allowed a Senate seat to be declared vacant if its occupant missed two successive sessions.