Thomas Deacon (politician)

This article is about the Ontario lawyer and political figure. For the Mayor of Winnipeg, see Thomas Russ Deacon.

Thomas Deacon
Ontario MPP
In office 1871–1879
Preceded by	Thomas Murray
Succeeded by	Thomas Murray
Constituency	Renfrew North
Personal details
Born	(1832-11-07)November 7, 1832 Perth, Upper Canada
Died	March 18, 1911(1911-03-18) (aged 78) Pembroke, Ontario
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Caroline Rebecca Dunlop (m. 1864)
Profession	Lawyer

Thomas Deacon, QC (November 7, 1832 – March 18, 1911) was an Ontario lawyer, judge, businessman and political figure. He represented Renfrew North in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1871 to 1879.

He was born in Perth in Upper Canada in 1832, the son of John Deacon, an Irish immigrant. He studied law with his brother John, was called to the bar in 1862 and went on to practise in Pembroke. Deacon married Caroline Rebecca Dunlop in 1864. He was named Queen's Counsel in 1876. He served as a member of the town council. Deacon was a director of the Kingston and Pembroke Railway and president of a lumber company. He was named judge in Renfrew County in 1895. Deacon was also county master for the Orange Order. He died in 1911 in Pembroke.

Deacon, a geographic township in Nipissing District, was named after him.

Electoral history

Ontario provincial by-election, October 22, 1869: Renfrew North Resignation of John Supple
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Thomas Murray	518	53.40	+25.23
	Conservative	Thomas Deacon	452	46.60	−25.14
Total valid votes			970	100.0	−13.24
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing		+25.18
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario

1871 Ontario general election: Renfrew North
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Thomas Deacon	640	56.74	+11.67
	Liberal	Thomas Murray	488	43.26	−11.67
Turnout			1,128	74.31	19.62
Eligible voters			1,518
	Conservative gain from Liberal		Swing		+11.67
Source: Elections Ontario

1875 Ontario general election: Renfrew North
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Thomas Deacon	894	53.44	−3.30
	Liberal	T.W. Moffat	779	46.56	+3.30
Total valid votes			1,673	76.71	+2.40
Eligible voters			2,181
	Conservative hold		Swing		−3.30
Source: Elections Ontario

1879 Ontario general election: Renfrew North
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Thomas Murray	1,066	52.56	+6.00
	Conservative	Thomas Deacon	962	47.44	−6.00
Total valid votes			2,028	72.07	−4.64
Eligible voters			2,814
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing		+6.00
Source: Elections Ontario

External links

• Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history
• Morgan, Henry James, ed. (1898). The Canadian Men and Women of the Time: A Handbook of Canadian Biography (first ed.). Toronto: William Briggs.
• Gardner, Herbert Fairbairn (1899). Nothing but Names: an Inquiry into the Origin of the Names of the Counties and Townships of Ontario. Toronto: George N. Morang.