Benjamin Parkyn Richardson

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Benjamin Parkyn Richardson (22 July 1857 - 8 August 1910) was a member of the first North-West Legislative Assembly in Northwest Territories, Canada, from 20 June 1888 until 10 October 1891. He settled in present-day Saskatchewan in 1884.

1 Early Life
2 Public Life
3 References
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Early Life

Richardson was the third son of the Reverend George Thomas Richardson (1822-1888), Methodist Minister of Toronto Conference, who came to Canada from Cornwall, England in 1854. He was born at Blenheim in the County of York, Ontario in 1857.

Richardson was educated at the county public schools and Uxbridge High School. He taught school for six years at Uxbridge, and then engaged in farming and stock-raising. He married Margaret Ethel Austin (1856-1928) of Clough Jordon, Tipperary, Ireland, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 3 October 1882. In 1884, Richardson settled in the North-West Territories and established himself as a farmer and stock breeder.

[edit] Public Life

From 1888-1891, NWT covered much of Canada, and its political capital was Regina.

“	In the death of Benjamin Parkyn Richardson, the district of Grenfell has lost one of its early pioneers and the town one of its most prominent and active citizens. Coming to what was then Grenfell in the spring of 1884, he at once identified himself with the interests of the West, at that time still uncertain, its future success- doubtful. The difficulties and discouragement of those early years, is still fresh and green in the memories of some who are still with us, but who, like him whose loss we now deplore, have lived to see the full dawn of a brighter day, and a truer knowledge of the land we live in.	”
	— Grenfell Sun, 1910

Richardson earned 209 votes to be elected as member for Wolseley (in present-day Saskatchewan) in 1888. He campaigned again and lost in the 1891 Northwest Territories general election, earning 213 votes, while his opponent, James Dill, earned 312. Richardson ran a third time for election in Grenfell in the 1898 Northwest Territories general election, earning 153 votes, while his opponent, Richard Stuart Lake, earned 351. Five general elections would occur between 1888 to 1905, as the territories underwent significant growth.

As an assembly member, Richardson was twice appointed to the Advisory Council of the Lieutenant Governor. A selection of his correspondence with Lieutenant Governor Edgar Dewdney is kept in the archives of the Glenbow Museum in Calgary (Alberta).

Richardson served as first president of the Grenfell Agricultural Society formed in 1884, director of the Hospital Board, chairman of the Public School Board, and editor of the Grenfell Sun, of which he was a founder. An active member of the Methodist Church, Richardson was vice-president of its Bible Society, the Lord's Day Alliance and first vice-president of the Board of Governors of the Methodist College in Regina. Was also director of the Grenfell Cheese Company and Inspector of Agencies, London and Lancashire Life Assurance Company, for Manitoba and North-West Territories.

Richardson was survived by his seven children: Clara Maud, George Elvin, Albert Austin, Florence Ethel, Charles Douglas, Cora Mabel and Clifford Parkyn Richardson.