Thomas Hillhouse
Encyclopedia
Thomas Paterson Hillhouse (June 25, 1898 in Glasgow
, Scotland
– October 27, 1991) was a politician
in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
from 1950 to 1969, initially serving as a Liberal-Progressive
and subsequently as a Liberal, after the party changed its name.
Hillhouse was educated at the University of Manitoba
and the Manitoba Law School, and worked as a barrister-at-law and a police magistrate for the province.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in a by-election
on October 10, 1950. Hillhouse defeated his CCF and Progressive Conservative
opponents fairly easily in the riding of St. Andrews, and served as a backbench supporter of Douglas Campbell
's government. He was re-elected in the 1953 election
. Notwithstanding their name, the Liberal-Progressives were considered the most right-wing party in Manitoba during this period; Hillhouse, however, was seen as a leading social liberal in the party's caucus. Some expressed surprise that he was never named to cabinet.
The Liberal-Progressives lost power following the 1958 provincial election
, and Hillhouse was returned by a reduced majority in the redistributed riding of Selkirk. He defeated PC candidate Edward Foster by only 82 votes in the 1959 election
, in which the Progressive Conservatives won a majority government. He won by a greater majority in the 1962 election
, but defeated PC candidate Sydney Sarbitt by only 40 votes in that of 1966
. Hillhouse retired from the legislature in 1969.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
– October 27, 1991) was a politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and the lieutenant governor form the Legislature of Manitoba, the legislature of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Fifty-seven members are elected to this assembly in provincial general elections, all in single-member constituencies with first-past-the-post...
from 1950 to 1969, initially serving as a Liberal-Progressive
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
and subsequently as a Liberal, after the party changed its name.
Hillhouse was educated at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
and the Manitoba Law School, and worked as a barrister-at-law and a police magistrate for the province.
He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
on October 10, 1950. Hillhouse defeated his CCF and Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
opponents fairly easily in the riding of St. Andrews, and served as a backbench supporter of Douglas Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell
Douglas Lloyd Campbell, OC was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served as the 13th Premier of Manitoba from 1948 to 1958...
's government. He was re-elected in the 1953 election
Manitoba general election, 1953
Manitoba's general election of June 8, 1953 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. This was the first election held in Manitoba after the breakup of a ten-year coalition government led by the Liberal-Progressives and Progressive Conservatives...
. Notwithstanding their name, the Liberal-Progressives were considered the most right-wing party in Manitoba during this period; Hillhouse, however, was seen as a leading social liberal in the party's caucus. Some expressed surprise that he was never named to cabinet.
The Liberal-Progressives lost power following the 1958 provincial election
Manitoba general election, 1958
Manitoba's general election of June 16, 1958 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.This election was the first to be held in Manitoba after a comprehensive electoral redistribution in 1956...
, and Hillhouse was returned by a reduced majority in the redistributed riding of Selkirk. He defeated PC candidate Edward Foster by only 82 votes in the 1959 election
Manitoba general election, 1959
Manitoba's general election of May 14, 1959 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a majority victory for the Progressive Conservative Party under the leadership of Dufferin Roblin...
, in which the Progressive Conservatives won a majority government. He won by a greater majority in the 1962 election
Manitoba general election, 1962
Manitoba's general election of December 16, 1962 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a second majority victory for the Progressive Conservative Party under the leadership of Dufferin Roblin...
, but defeated PC candidate Sydney Sarbitt by only 40 votes in that of 1966
Manitoba general election, 1966
The Manitoba general election held on June 23, 1966, was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It resulted in a third consecutive majority win for the Progressive Conservative Party led by Dufferin Roblin...
. Hillhouse retired from the legislature in 1969.