James McLenaghen

Who was James McLenaghen?

James O. McLenaghen was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1927 until his death, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of John Bracken, Stuart Garson and Douglas Campbell.

The son of John McLenaghen and Elisabeth McIlquhan, McLenaghen was born in Balderson, Ontario, where he was educated until 1902; afterwards he went to school in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. He later attained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Manitoba University, and worked as a barrister-of-law, after studying in the office of future Prime Minister Arthur Meighen. McLenaghen was called to the Manitoba bar in 1918. In 1919, he married Catherine Newman.

McLenaghen became active in the Conservative Party of Manitoba, and sought election to the provincial legislature for Kildonan and St. Andrews in the 1927 provincial election. He was successful, defeating Liberal W.H. Gibbs and a candidate aligned with the governing Progressive Party. He was re-elected in the 1932 election, defeating Gibbs by 39 votes.

McLenaghen was returned by an increased majority in the 1936 provincial election, the first in which the Conservative Party was led by Errick Willis. Four years later, he helped to bring the Conservative Party into a governing alliance with the Liberal-Progressives, along with the smaller Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and Social Credit parties. All parties were given cabinet representation, and McLenaghen was appointed as Minister of Health and Public Welfare on November 4, 1942. The coalition's leader was Premier John Bracken, leader of the Liberal-Progressive Party.