Peter Francis Martin

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Peter Francis Martin (January 13, 1856 – May 2, 1935) was a contractor and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Halifax in the House of Commons of Canada from 1917 to 1921 as a Unionist Party member. Martin was elected by acclamation in the Khaki Election of 1917; in Halifax, the election was postponed after the Halifax Explosion and Martin's Liberal opponent withdrew in a show of post-explosion unity.[1] Martin replaced Prime Minister Robert Borden, who had run (and won) in Kings County.[2] Martin sat for Halifax division in the Senate of Canada from 1921 to 1935 as a Conservative.[3]

He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the son of Francis Martin, and was educated there. Martin married Elizabeth C. Sullivan. He served 18 years on Halifax city council[4] and was mayor from 1915 to 1918. The Halifax Explosion occurred during this term as mayor,[5] although he was absent from the city when the explosion happened because he was campaigning with other Maritimes candidates for his parliamentary seat.[6] Martin died in office in Halifax at the age of 79.[4]

1917 Canadian federal election: Halifax
Party Candidate Votes Elected
Government (Unionist) Alexander Kenneth Maclean acclaimed Green tickY
Government (Unionist) Peter Francis Martin acclaimed Green tickY

References[edit]

  1. ^ Remes, Jacob Aaron Carliner (2010). "Cities of Comrades: Urban Disasters and the Formation of the North American Progressive State." PhD dissertation, Duke University. pp. 146-149.
  2. ^ Borden, Robert Laird (1938). Borden, Henry (ed.). Robert Laird Borden: His Memoirs. Toronto: Macmillan. p. 2:762.
  3. ^ Peter Francis Martin – Parliament of Canada biography
  4. ^ a b Johnson, J.K. (1968). The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867-1967. Public Archives of Canada.
  5. ^ "Former Mayors". City of Halifax. Archived from the original on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  6. ^ Remes, Jacob (2016). Disaster Citizenship: Survivors, Solidarity, and Power in the Progressive Era. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. p. 38. ISBN 9780252097942.