Home > J. Arthur Ross

Ross was born in Lyleton , Manitoba. He enlisted as a soldier in World War I, served in France, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. After the war, he worked as a farmer and served as Reeve of Arthur Municipality for twelve years. He was also an active Freemason.

Ross ran as a candidate of the Manitoba Conservative Party in the southwestern riding of Arthur for the provincial elections of 1927, 1932 and 1936Events January-February January 15 The first building to be completely covered in glass is completed in Toledo, Ohio, for the Owens-Illinois Glass Company. January 20 Death of George V of the United Kingdom. His son Edward VIII succeedes him as King of th. He was defeated on all three occasions by candidates of the governing Progressive PartyThe Progressive Party of Manitoba was a political party that developed from the United Farmers of Manitoba, an agrarian movement that became politically active following World War I. A successor to the province's Grain Grower's Association, the UFM repres (known after 1932 as the Liberal-Progressive Party).

In 1940Events January-February January 5 FM radio is demonstrated to the FCC for the first time. January 6 World War II: Mass execution of Poles, committed by Germans in the Poznan, Warthegau. January 12 World War II: Russia bombs cities in Finland. February 2 F, Ross was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the riding of Souris , narrowly defeating LiberalLiberal Party of Canada Current Leader Paul Martin Founded July 1, 1867 (nation's founding) Headquarters Suite 40081 Metcalfe Street Ottawa, OntarioK1P 6M8 Colours Red Political ideology liberal International alignment Liberal International The Liberal Pa candidate George William McDonald . He was re-elected by a wider margin in 1945Events January January 5 The Soviet Union recognizes the new pro-Soviet government of Poland. January 7 British General Bernard Montgomery holds a press conference in which he claims credit for victory in the Battle of the Bulge. January 12 World War II:, and once again by a narrow margin in 1949. He remained an MP until 1953, serving for the entire time in the opposition Progressive Conservative caucus.

Ross returned to provincial politics for the election of 1953, and was elected for Arthur on his fourth attempt. He defeated John R. Pitt , who had been his opponent in 1936.

The Manitoba Progressive Conservatives were in a state of transformation during the early 1950s. From 1940 to 1950, they had been part of a coalition government with the Liberal-Progressives. This coalition ended soon after Douglas Campbell became Premier in 1948, and the Progressive Conservatives were struggling to re-define themselves as the "government in waiting".

The Conservatives had been led since 1936 by Errick Willis, a figure from the party's rural base who was a prominent cabinet minister in the coalition years. Willis had been an ineffective campaigner in the 1953 election, and many Conservatives (including Ross) believed that new leadership would be needed for an electoral breakthrough. In October 1953, Willis bowed to internal pressure and called a leadership convention for the following year. Willis announced that he would stand for re-election; Ross and Dufferin Roblin also declared themselves as candidates.

Ross was unskilled at province-wide campaigning, and was unable to develop an organization comparable with those of Willis and Roblin. He was also damaged by reports that he and other MLAs were preparing to start a new party if Willis was re-elected.

Ross finished third on the first ballot, with 55 votes. Most of his supporters went to Roblin, who won on the second ballot.

Ross died just before the election of 1958. Had he survived, he almost certainly would have been a leading figure within Roblin's cabinet.