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Darby Bergin

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Darby Bergin
Member of Parliament for Cornwall
In office
1872–1874
Preceded byJohn Sandfield Macdonald
Succeeded byAlexander Francis Macdonald
Member of Parliament for Cornwall and Stormont
In office
1882–1896
Preceded byRiding established
Succeeded byJohn Goodall Snetsinger
Surgeon General of Canada
In office
1885–1896
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byJohn Louis Hubert Neilson
Personal details
BornSeptember 7, 1826
York, Upper Canada
DiedOctober 22, 1896(1896-10-22) (aged 70)
Cornwall, Ontario
Political partyLiberal-Conservative
OccupationSoldier, politician, physician
Military service
AllegianceUpper Canada
Canada
Branch/serviceCanadian militia
Years of service1850 - 1885
RankCaptain
Major
Colonel
Surgeon General
Unit3rd Stormont Militia (1850-51)
4th Stormont Militia (1851-62)
Commands1st Cornwall Rifle Company (1862-68)
59th Stormont and Glengarry Battalion (1868-85)
North-West Field Force Medical Services (1885)
Battles/warsTrent Affair
Fenian Raids
North-West Rebellion

Colonel Darby Bergin (September 7, 1826 – October 22, 1896) was an Ontario physician and political figure. He represented Cornwall from 1872 to 1874 and from 1878 to 1882 and then Cornwall and Stormont from 1882 to 1896 in the House of Commons of Canada as a Liberal-Conservative member. He was the 1st Canadian Surgeon General.

Early life

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Darby Bergin was born in York (later Toronto), Upper Canada in 1826, the son of William Bergin, a York merchant who had immigrated from Ireland. He studied at Upper Canada College and McGill College, receiving his MD.CM in 1847. Bergin set up practice at Cornwall. He was founder and president of the Eastern District Medical Association, president of the St. Lawrence and Eastern District Medical Association and examiner for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, also serving president of the council for the college from 1881 to 1882 and from 1885 to 1886. With his brother John, he also raised horses and cattle.

Political career

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Bergin represented Cornwall from 1872 to 1874 and from 1878 to 1882 and then Cornwall and Stormont from 1882 to 1896 in the House of Commons of Canada as a Liberal-Conservative member. He was defeated by Alexander Francis Macdonald, the brother of Donald Alexander Macdonald, in 1874. He opposed the Canada Temperance Act of 1878, feeling that, in the end, it increased, rather than prevented, the consumption of alcohol. Bergin also introduced private member's bills to regulate working conditions for women and children, even though it was believed by some that labour regulations fell under provincial control; his efforts led to the introduction of legislation regulating labour conditions in Ontario factories.

With Joseph Kerr, he promoted the development of the Ontario Pacific Railway, serving as president from 1886 until his death in 1896, when his brother John succeeded him. Bergin also helped promote the expansion of the Cornwall Canal.

Military career

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Bergin was very active with the Canadian Militia. He was appointed a Surgeon in the 3rd Battalion, Stormont Militia in 1850 and in 1851 transferred to the 4th Battalion. In 1862 during the Trent Affair, he raised and commanded the 1st Cornwall Rifle Company, which served on active duty as No. 3 Company, 3rd Provisional Battalion, in La Prairie from December 1863 to April 1864, and during the St. Albans Raid.

He commanded the company on active duty in Cornwall during the Fenian Raid in 1866, and when the 59th Stormont and Glengarry Battalion was created on July 3, 1868, Major Bergin was appointed the first Commanding Officer. He commanded the battalion in the garrison at Cornwall during the Fenian Raid of 1870, and remained in command of the regiment until 1885. He was succeeded by Colonel J.H. Bredin.

On April 1, 1885, Colonel Bergin was appointed to command of the medical services for the North-West Field Force that was mobilizing for service in the North-West Rebellion. He was appointed Surgeon General and served with Middleton's expedition in 1885. Although he was unsuccessful in persuading the government to create a permanent militia medical corps following the North-West Rebellion, the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps was later established in 1904.

Death

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On October 22, 1896, Darby Bergin died in Cornwall while still in office after succumbing to an unidentified illness.

Electoral record

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1878 Canadian federal election: Cornwall
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal–Conservative Darby Bergin 575
Liberal D.B. McLennan 537

On Mr. Bergin being unseated on petition, 24 December 1879:

By-election on 27 January 1880
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal–Conservative BERGIN, Darby 624
Liberal MCLENNNAN, D.B. 447
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