James Murdock (politician)

For those of a similar name, see James Murdoch (disambiguation).

The Honourable James Murdock PC
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Kent
In office 1922–1925
Preceded by	Archibald McCoig
Succeeded by	Alexander Dew Chaplin
Senator for Parkdale, Ontario
In office 1930–1949
Appointed by	William Lyon Mackenzie King
Personal details
Born	(1871-08-15)August 15, 1871 Brighton, England
Died	May 15, 1949(1949-05-15) (aged 77)
Political party	Liberal
Cabinet	Minister of Labour (1921–1925)
Committees	Chair, Standing Committee on Immigration and Labour (1945–1947)

James Murdock, PC (August 15, 1871 – May 15, 1949) was a Canadian politician.

Born in Brighton, England, Murdock first ran for the House of Commons of Canada as the Liberal candidate in the 1921 federal election in the Ontario riding of Toronto South. Although defeated, he was appointed Minister of Labour in the cabinet of Mackenzie King shortly after the election. The current MP in the riding of Kent, Archibald McCoig, gave up his seat and was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1922. Murdock was acclaimed to this seat in the resulting 1922 by-election.

While Minister of Labour in 1923, Murdock was embroiled in controversy after he withdrew funds from the Home Bank of Canada a day or two before its collapse based on information he obtained as a member of the Cabinet.

He was defeated in the 1925 election in the riding of Toronto—High Park and again in 1926.

In 1930, he was summoned to the Senate representing the senatorial division of Parkdale, Ontario on the advice of Prime Minister Mackenzie King. He served until his death in 1949.

References

• James Murdock – Parliament of Canada biography