David Mills (Canadian politician)

The Hon. David Mills
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Bothwell
In office 1867–1882
Succeeded by	John Joseph Hawkins
In office 1884–1896
Preceded by	John Joseph Hawkins
Succeeded by	James Clancy
Senator for Bothwell, Ontario
In office 1896–1902
Appointed by	Wilfrid Laurier
Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
In office 1902–1903
Nominated by	Wilfrid Laurier
Preceded by	John Wellington Gwynne
Succeeded by	Wallace Nesbitt
Personal details
Born	March 18, 1831 Orford Township, Upper Canada
Died	May 8, 1903 (aged 72) Ottawa, Ontario
Political party	Liberal
Alma mater	University of Michigan

David Mills, PC (March 18, 1831 – May 8, 1903) was a Canadian politician, author, poet and puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

He was born in Palmyra, in southwestern Upper Canada (now Ontario). His father, Nathaniel Mills, was one of the first settlers in the area. Mills served as superintendent of schools for Kent County from 1856 to 1865. He then attended the University of Michigan School of law, graduating with honors in 1867 with an LL.B degree.

He published The Present and Future Political Aspects of Canada in 1860 and The Blunders of the Dominion Government in connection with the North-West Territory in 1871.

Mills was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) in the 1867 federal election and re-elected in four subsequent votes until being defeated in the 1882 election.

He returned to Parliament through an 1884 by-election. He was re-elected in subsequent elections until his defeat in the 1896 election despite this being the election that brought the Liberals back to power.

He served as Minister of the Interior in the Cabinet of Alexander Mackenzie from 1876 to 1878. Sir Wilfrid Laurier appointed Mills to the Canadian Senate after he lost his Commons seat in 1896, and appointed him to Cabinet as Minister of Justice and Leader of the Government in the Canadian Senate. He resigned from the Senate and Cabinet in 1902. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada on February 8, 1902, and served on the Court for one year until his death in 1903.

References

• "David Mills". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.
• Selected poetry of David Mills
• David Mills – Parliament of Canada biography
• Supreme Court of Canada biography