William Walker Kennedy

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William Walker Kennedy (1882 – February 10, 1963) was a Manitoba politician and lawyer.

He was born in Leeds County, Ontario and educated at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. He moved to Manitoba in 1904 where he worked as a journalist for two years before entering the University of Manitoba's law school. After earning his law degree he was called to the bar in 1909.

Kennedy joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in November 1915, and went to France with the 46th Battalion in May 1917. He was wounded and awarded the Military Cross for his service at the Battle of Passchendaele and was decorated for the Battle of Valenciennes. He was given field promotions to captain and then major before being discharged in 1919.

He was elected to the House of Commons of Canada as the MP for Winnipeg South Centre as a Conservative in the 1925 federal election but defeated the next year in the 1926 federal election.

Kennedy was returned to Parliament again in the 1930 federal election and served as Chairman of the which was commissioned by Prime Minister R.B. Bennett to investigate complaints made by one of his cabinet members H.H. Stevens.

Kennedy lost his seat in the 1940 federal election and was defeated a final time in the 1945 election.

Electoral history[]

hide1925 Canadian federal election: Winnipeg South Centre
Party Candidate Votes %
Conservative William Walker Kennedy 12,094 52.9
Liberal Joseph Fergus Davidson 7,132 31.2
Labour Alexander Henry 3,643 15.9
Total valid votes 22,869 100.0
hide1926 Canadian federal election: Winnipeg South Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joseph Thorarinn Thorson 12,315 51.2 +20.0
Conservative William Walker Kennedy 11,737 48.8 -4.1
Total valid votes 24,052 100.0
hide1930 Canadian federal election: Winnipeg South Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Walker Kennedy 17,355 56.0 +7.2
Liberal Joseph Thorarinn Thorson 13,637 44.0 -7.2
Total valid votes 30,992 100.0
hide1935 Canadian federal election: Winnipeg South Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ralph Maybank 11,264 36.4 -7.6
Conservative William Walker Kennedy 9,382 30.3 -25.7
Co-operative Commonwealth Stanley Knowles 6,573 21.2
Reconstruction Alfred James Susans 2,642 8.5
Social Credit Arthur Brown 1,114 3.6
Total valid votes 30,975 100.0
hide1940 Canadian federal election: Winnipeg South Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ralph Maybank 19,486 54.5 +18.1
National Government William Walker Kennedy 10,698 29.9 -0.4
Co-operative Commonwealth John Julius Swanson 5,576 15.6 -5.6
Total valid votes 35,760 100.0

Note: "National Government" vote is compared to Conservative vote in 1935 election.

hide1945 Canadian federal election: Winnipeg South Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ralph Maybank 16,389 44.0 -10.5
Co-operative Commonwealth Lloyd Cleworth Stinson 12,393 33.3 +17.7
Progressive Conservative Frank Edward Womersley 8,461 22.7 -7.2
Total valid votes 37,243 100.0

Note: Progressive Conservative vote is compared to "National Government" vote in 1940 election.

External links[]


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