William Esling

Who was William Esling?

William Kemble Esling was a Conservative and National Government party member of the Canadian House of Commons. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States and became an agent and newspaper publisher by career.

He attended Girard College in Philadelphia, and then emigrated to Canada in 1896. For two decades, he maintained British Columbia newspaper enterprises in Rossland and Trail.

Esling was a Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1921 to 1924 at the Rossland electoral district.

He was first elected to Parliament at the Kootenay West riding in the 1925 general election then re-elected for successive terms in 1926, 1930 and 1935. He was also re-elected in 1940 under the National Government party banner. Esling did not seek re-election to Parliament in 1945 and left the House of Commons after completing his term in the 19th Canadian Parliament. He also held the distinction of being the only blind Member of Parliament during his tenure in the House.