Charles R. Mitchell
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Charles Richmond Mitchell (born:November 30, 1872 died:August 16, 1942) was a Lawyer, Judge, Cabinet Minister and former Leader of the Official Opposition in Alberta, Canada.
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[edit] Early life
Charles was born in Newcastle, New Brunswick on November 30, 1872.
The Mitchell's were a prominate family around that time, his father was the Sheriff of Northumberland County and Charles' uncle was Peter Mitchell, a Senator and later Premier of New Brunswick.
He went to the University of New Brunswick and King’s College and took the New Brunswick bar exam in 1897. The next year he moved to Medicine Hat, at that time in the Northwest Territories and opened a thriving legal practice. He was appointed as a Judge in 1907 for the Calgary District Court.
[edit] Cabinet Minister
Charles was first elected in a by-election in Medicine Hat provincial electoral district on June 29, 1910 after he was appointed to the cabinet by Premier Arthur L. Sifton on June 1, 1910.
Charles served two cabinet portfolios as the Minister of Education and the Attorney General of the province. He would serve both portfolios for 2 years until he became Minister of Public Works on May 4, 1912, dropping the others. In the 1913 Alberta general election Charles was defeated by Nelson Spenser from the Conservatives, The high-profile defeat was one of many suffered that election by the Alberta Liberal Party.
After his defeat in the 1913 general election, George Lane the Member for Bow Valley, resigned to provide a seat for the defeated Minister. On June 12, 1913 he was acclaimed and once again rejoined the government. He would serve Bow Valley as its Member until his resignation in 1926.
Charles was reappointed Cabinet as the Provincial Treasurer on November 28, 1913. Charles became the first non-premier Treasurer in Alberta history. He held that position until the government was defeated in 1921.
On April 29, 1920 Charles was appointed to be Minister of Municipal Affairs in addition to being the Treasurer.
[edit] Defeat of the government
Charles survived was one of the few Liberal Party members who survived the defeat of the government in 1921. After the Resignation of John R. Boyle to the judiciary on October 27, 1924 Charles became the 5th leader of the provincial Liberal Party. He would serve as Leader of the Official opposition until he was appointed as a Justice to the Supreme Court of Alberta, vacating his seat and position as leader of the Liberal party.
Charles passed away August 16, 1942 in Edmonton, Alberta.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by William Finlay |
MLA Medicine Hat 1910-1913 |
Succeeded by Nelson Spenser |
| Preceded by George Lane |
MLA Bow Valley 1913-1926 |
Succeeded by Joseph Tweed Shaw |
| Preceded by John R. Boyle |
Leader of the Official Opposition in Alberta 1924–1926 |
Succeeded by John C. Bowen |
