Francis Henry Keefer

Who was Francis Henry Keefer?

Francis Henry Keefer was a Canadian lawyer and politician.

Born in Strathroy, Upper Canada, the son of James Keefer and Maria Cook, studied at the Strathroy Grammar School and Upper Canada College before receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1881, a Master of Arts degree in 1882, and a Bachelor of Laws in 1882 all from the University of Toronto. In 1883, he moved to Prince Arthur's Landing and was called to the Bar in 1884. He practiced law with his brother Thomas Alexander Keefer. He was created a federal Queen's Counsel in July 1896 and a provincial King's Counsel in January 1908.

He first ran unsuccessfully for the Canadian House of Commons as the Conservative candidate for the riding of Thunder Bay and Rainy River in the 1908 federal election. He was elected for Port Arthur and Kenora as the Unionist candidate in the 1917 election and was defeated in 1921. Keefer served as Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for External Affairs from November 1918 to July 1920.

Keefer also served municipally, as solicitor and counsel in Port Arthur from 1889 to 1910. At various times he acted as Crown Counsel in the Thunder Bay district.