James Breakey

Who was James Breakey?

James Washington Breakey, was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was briefly the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party, and was subsequently a supporter of the province's Liberal-Progressive coalition government.

The son of James Breakey and Susan McCormick, he was educated in Ontario and then moved to Manitoba, settling on a homestead in Melita from 1882 to 1886. He then was partner in a mercantile business in Souris from 1886 to 1896. In 1892, Breakey married Jennie Hopkins. He served as secretary-treasurer for Souris and for the Rural Municipality of Glenwood. After working as a financial agent, Breakey was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in 1914, winning Glenwood for the Liberal Party. He was re-elected in the Liberal landslide victory of 1915. The following year, he co-sponsored Fred Dixon's Workmen's Compensation Act, a version of which was subsequently enacted as law.

Breakey lost to Independent Farmer William Robson in 1920. He recaptured his seat in 1922, and was re-elected in 1927.