James Innes (Canadian politician)

James Innes (February 1, 1833 – July 16, 1903) was a Scottish-born journalist, businessman and political figure in Ontario, Canada. He represented Wellington South in the Canadian House of Commons from 1882 to 1896 as a Liberal member.

He was born in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, the son of Alexander Innes and Elsbeth Fordyce, taught school in Scotland for five years and arrived in Canada West in 1853. He was a reporter for the Globe and British Colonist in Toronto and the Morning Banner in Hamilton. In 1861, he became the editor for the Guelph Advertiser. He became co-owner of the Guelph Weekly Mercury in 1862. In 1873, he merged that paper with the Advertiser to form the Guelph Mercury and Advertiser. Innes married Helen Gerrard in 1873. He served on the local board of education and became chairman in 1882. Innes was also president of the Dominion Life Assurance Company and helped form the Guelph Junction Railway. He died of pneumonia in Sydney, Nova Scotia at the age of 70 while travelling in eastern Canada.

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 1882
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     Liberal James INNES 1,790 51.7 -2.8
     Conservative James GOLDIE 1,672 48.3 2.8
Total valid votes 3,462 100.0
Canadian federal election, 1887
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     Liberal James INNES 2,411 51.3 -0.4
     Conservative James GOLDIE 2,285 48.7 0.4
Total valid votes 4,696 100.0
Canadian federal election, 1891
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     Liberal James INNES 2,510 54.0 2.7
     Conservative James GOLDIE 2,134 46.0 -2.7
Total valid votes 4,644 100.0
Canadian federal election, 1896
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     Conservative Christian KLOEPFER 2,578 51.4 5.4
     Liberal James INNES 2,440 48.6 -5.4
Total valid votes 5,018 100.0

References