Samuel Lawrence (Canadian politician)
Samuel Lawrence | |
|---|---|
Lawrence, c. 1937 | |
| MPP for Hamilton East | |
| In office 1934–1937 | |
| Preceded by | William Morrison |
| Succeeded by | John P. MacKay |
| Mayor of Hamilton | |
| In office January 1, 1944 – December 31, 1949 | |
| Preceded by | William Morrison |
| Succeeded by | Lloyd Jackson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 16, 1879 Norton-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, England |
| Died | October 25, 1959 (aged 80) Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| Resting place | Hamilton Cemetery |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Political party | Ontario CCF |
| Spouse | Isabelle Marshall (1877-1957) |
| Relations | William Lawrence (father) and Ann Geard (mother) |
| Children | Arthur William Francis(son), Leonard George (son), Sidney James (son), Marion Isabelle (daughter) |
| Occupation | Stonemason |
Samuel Lawrence (August 16, 1879 – October 25, 1959) was a Canadian politician and trade unionist. He was the first member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and subsequently served as Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario.
Lawrence was born in Somerset, England and went to work in a quarry at the age of 12. He became a shop steward in the Operative Stonemasons' Union at the age of 18. He entered politics, running for election in Battersea in London.
Known as "Mr. Labour", Sam Lawrence was an alderman, controller, and the Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario from 1944 to 1949. He was also President of the Stone Cutters' Union, Vice-President of the Hamilton Trades and Labour Council, and leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) party in the Ontario legislature as well as Ontario CCF president in the early 1940s