James McShane
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James McShane (1833-11-07 – 1918-12-14) was a Canadian businessman and politician. He was mayor of Montreal, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, and a member of the Canadian House of Commons.
Born in Montreal, the son of James McShane and Ellen Quinn, he worked as an exporter of livestock to England. A volunteer in the militia he served during the Fenian raids in 1866. From 1868 to 1873, he represented Sainte-Anne ward on the Montreal City Council. From 1874 to 1881 and again from 1883 to 1887, he was an alderman. From 1891 to 1893, he was the mayor of Montreal. In 1873, he was defeated as the Liberal candidate in a Quebec provincial by-election in the riding of Montréal-Ouest. He was elected in the 1878 provincial election and re-elected in 1881, 1886, and 1890. From 1887 to 1888, he was commissioner of agriculture and public works in the cabinet of Premier Honoré Mercier. He was defeated in the 1892 provincial election. In 1895, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in a by-election in the riding of Montreal Centre. A Liberal, he was defeated in the 1896 federal election in the riding of St. Anne.
After leaving politics, he was involved with the Montreal Harbour Commission and was harbour-master from 1900 to 1912.
