Mahlon K. Cowan

Mahlon K. Cowan
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Essex South
In office
1896–1904
Preceded by Henry William Allan
Succeeded by Alfred Henry Clarke
Personal details
Born May 10, 1863
Blytheswood, Canada West
Died October 28, 1917 (aged 54)
Toronto, Ontario
Political party Liberal

Mahlon K. Cowan (May 10, 1863 October 28, 1917) was a lawyer and political figure in Ontario, Canada. He represented Essex South in the Canadian House of Commons from 1896 to 1904 as a Liberal.[1]

He was born in Blytheswood, Canada West, the son of Walter Cowan, an Irish immigrant, and Mary Ann Kitchen. Cowan was educated in Brantford and Collingwood, went on to study law with Arthur Sturgis Hardy and was called to the bar in 1890. He set up practice in Windsor. Cowan married Clara L. Pilkey in 1892.[2] In 1902, he was named King's Counsel. Cowan served as solicitor for the Grand Trunk Railway from 1904 to 1910. He died in Toronto at the age of 54.[3]

Cowan was one of the lawyers who defended Anderson Veney in 1893; the defence argued unsuccessfully that Veney was not guilty by reason of insanity.[4]

References

  1. Mahlon K. Cowan – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. Commemorative biographical record of the county of Essex, Ontario (1905) pp.16-18
  3. Johnson, J.K. (1968). The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867-1967. Public Archives of Canada.
  4. Brode, Patrick (1990). "Anderson Veney". Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online. Retrieved 2009-06-25.