Richard Hanson (Canadian politician)

The Honourable Richard Hanson PC KC
Leader of the Opposition
In office May 14, 1940 – January 1, 1943
Preceded by	Robert Manion
Succeeded by	Gordon Graydon
Mayor of Fredericton
In office 1918–1920
Personal details
Born	(1879-03-20)March 20, 1879 Bocabec, New Brunswick, Canada
Died
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Jean B. Neill (m. 1906)
Children	1
Residence	270 Church St., Fredericton
Alma mater	Mount Allison University, Dalhousie Law School
Profession	Lawyer

Richard Burpee Hanson, PC, KC, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (March 20, 1879 – July 14, 1948) was a Canadian politician who served as interim leader of the Conservative Party from May 14, 1940, until November 11, 1941.

Early life and education

Hanson was born on March 20, 1879, in Bocabec, Charlotte County, New Brunswick, to parents Richard B. and Hannah Hanson. He was educated in public schools in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Mount Allison University, and Dalhousie Law School.

Career

Hanson was admitted to the Bar of New Brunswick in November 1902 and was created a King's Counsel by the Government of New Brunswick in January 1917. From 1918 to 1920, he was Mayor of Fredericton.

First elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for the New Brunswick electoral district of York—Sunbury in the 1921 general election, Hanson served continuously in the House of Commons of Canada until his defeat in the 1935 election. He was appointed to the Cabinet of R. B. Bennett in 1934 as Minister of Trade and Commerce.

In the 1940 election, he returned to Parliament despite the poor showing of the Conservatives in that election and the personal defeat of Robert Manion. Since Manion resigned two months after the election, the Conservative caucus chose Hanson as interim leader and he served as Conservative Party Leader until Arthur Meighen was appointed the party's new leader in November 1941. As Meighen did not have a seat in the House (and then failed to win a seat through a by-election), Hanson continued as Leader of the Opposition until 1943.

Death and legacy

Hanson died on July 14, 1948, due to illness. The University of New Brunswick hands out the Richard Burpee Hanson Prize to a Faculty of Arts male student with the highest grades in English and History in the Sophomore level.

Archives

There is a Richard Burpee Hanson fonds at Library and Archives Canada.

Electoral history

Canadian federal election, 1940: Fredericton
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%
	National Government	Richard Hanson	10,352	51.10	+5.53
	Liberal	Peter J. Hughes	9,908	48.90	+2.05
Total valid votes			20,260	100.00

Canadian federal election, 1935: Fredericton
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%
	Liberal	William George Clark	9,296	46.85	+15.92
	Conservative	Richard Hanson	9,042	45.57	-23.50
	Reconstruction	Errol MacDonald	1,506	7.59	Ø
Total valid votes			19,844	100.00

Canadian federal election, 1930: Fredericton
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%
	Conservative	Richard Hanson	10,166	69.07	+3.61
	Liberal	Fraser Winslow	4,552	30.93	-3.61
Total valid votes			14,718	100.00

Canadian federal election, 1926: Fredericton
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%
	Conservative	Richard Hanson	8,451	65.46	-7.46
	Liberal	Peter J. Hughes	4,459	34.54	+7.46
Total valid votes			12,910	100.00

Canadian federal election, 1925: Fredericton
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%
	Conservative	Richard Hanson	8,636	72.92	+19.97
	Liberal	Charles Robert Hawkins	3,207	27.08	-19.97
Total valid votes			11,843	100.00

Canadian federal election, 1921: Fredericton
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	∆%
	Conservative	Richard Hanson	7,777	52.95	-0.62
	Liberal	William James Osborne	6,911	47.05	+0.62
Total valid votes			14,688	100.00

References

Bibliography

• Richard Hanson (Canadian politician) – Parliament of Canada biography

Party political offices
Preceded by Robert Manion	Leader of the Conservative Party 1940–1941 Interim	Succeeded by Arthur Meighen