James Henry Metcalfe

Who was James Henry Metcalfe?

James Henry Metcalfe was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Kingston in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1879 to 1892 and in the Canadian House of Commons from 1892 to 1896 as a Conservative member.

He was born in Kingston, Canada West in 1848, the son of John Metcalfe, who came to Kingston from Yorkshire, England. In 1869, he married Margaret Jane Clute. Metcalfe was a public school teacher in Kingston and later became an auctioneer. He served six years on the Kingston city council. Metcalfe resigned his seat in the provincial assembly in 1892 after being elected to the federal parliament. He ran unsuccessfully for the federal seat in 1902. Metcalfe served as Dominion Commissioner of Immigration for the North-West Territories and was warden of the Kingston Penitentiary from 1896 to 1899.