Frank H. Plant

Who was Frank H. Plant?

Frank Henry Plant was a Canadian businessman and politician. Plant served as mayor of Ottawa from 1921 to 1923 and in 1930. He also served on Ottawa Council from 1917 until 1921 and from 1925 until 1930.

He was born in London, Ontario in 1883 and came to Ottawa with his family in 1900. Plant worked in various accounting jobs during his youth and later got into the investment business. In the 1924 directory, Plant was listed as president of W. H. Plant, Limited, carriage makers on Murray Street.

Plant was first elected in 1917 to Ottawa Council, winning again in 1918, and 1919 on the Board of Control. Plant defeated Joseph Kent by six votes in the 1921 mayoral election, confirmed by a margin of twenty-one votes in the recount. Plant won in 1922 by 5,000 votes and was acclaimed as mayor in the 1923 election. Plant lost the 1924 mayoral election to Henry Watters. Plant returned to council as a controller in 1925. Plant remained a controller until 1930, when he was chosen as mayor. Plant left municipal politics in 1930 to run in federal politics, but was defeated in the 1930 federal election in the riding of Ottawa.