Thomas Scott (Manitoba politician) facts for kids
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Thomas Scott was an important Canadian leader. He was born on February 16, 1841, and passed away on February 11, 1915. Scott was a military officer and served in Canada's army. He also became a member of the government in Manitoba and later a member of the national Parliament. In the 1800s, he was the third Mayor of Winnipeg.
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Who Was Thomas Scott?
Thomas Scott was born in Lanark County, Ontario. This area was known as Upper Canada back then. His parents were immigrants from Ireland. He was the youngest of four children in his family.
Early Life and Career
Scott's father passed away when Thomas was just a baby. His family then moved to a town called Perth, Ontario. There, Thomas went to school. He also learned how to be a printer.
In 1861, when he was 20 years old, Scott started his own newspaper. It was called the Perth Expositor. He was both the editor and the owner of this newspaper. He ran the paper until 1872.
A Life in the Military
Thomas Scott joined the military in 1860. This was during a time called the Trent Affair. He was in charge of a group of soldiers called the Perth Infantry. He served for five months during the Fenian Raids in 1866.
In 1870, Scott was a high-ranking officer, a colonel. He was in charge of the Ontario Rifles. This group arrived at Fort Garry after Louis Riel had left. Scott went back to Ontario in December 1870. But he was sent back to Fort Garry in 1871. This was part of the Second Red River Expedition.
Scott left the military in 1874. However, he stayed in Manitoba.
Entering Politics
After leaving the army, Thomas Scott decided to get involved in politics. He was elected to Winnipeg's first city council. In 1877, he became the Mayor of Winnipeg.
In 1878, Scott was elected to the Manitoba government. He represented the Winnipeg area. Then, in 1880, he won against Donald A. Smith. Scott became a Member of Parliament for Selkirk. He was part of the Conservative Party. He was elected again in 1882 for the new Winnipeg area.
Later Years
In 1885, while still a Member of Parliament, Scott returned to military service. The government minister in charge of the army, Sir Adolphe-Philippe Caron, asked him for help. Scott was asked to gather a group of soldiers to stop the North-West Rebellion. Scott quickly gathered and prepared the Ninety-fifth Manitoba Grenadiers in just thirteen days.
Scott left politics in 1887. After that, he worked as a collector of customs in Winnipeg. This meant he collected taxes on goods that came into the city.
