William Paterson (Canadian politician)

The Hon. William Paterson
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Brant South
In office 1872–1896
Preceded by	Edmund Burke Wood
Succeeded by	Robert Henry
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Grey North
In office 1896–1900
Preceded by	John Clark
Succeeded by	Edward H. Horsey
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Wentworth North and Brant
In office 1900–1904
Preceded by	James Somerville
Succeeded by	The electoral district was abolished in 1903.
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Brant
In office 1904–1914
Preceded by	The electoral district was created in 1903.
Succeeded by	John Fisher
Personal details
Born	September 19, 1839 Hamilton, Upper Canada
Died	March 18, 1914 (aged 74) Picton, Ontario
Political party	Liberal
Cabinet	Controller of Customs (1896-1897) Minister of Customs (1897-1911)

William Paterson, PC (September 19, 1839 – March 18, 1914) was a Canadian politician.

Born in Hamilton, Upper Canada, the son of James and Martha Paterson, Paterson's parents died from cholera in 1849 and he was adopted by Reverend Dr. Ferrier, a Presbyterian minister. He was educated in Hamilton and Caledonia. He moved to Brantford and became a manufacturer of biscuits and confectionery. He married Lucy Clive Davies in 1863.^[1]

He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the Brant South riding in the 1872 election. The Liberal politician was re-elected in 1874, 1878, 1882, 1887, and 1891. He was defeated in the 1896 election but was elected in an 1896 by-election in Grey North, when the candidate elected for this riding died before the opening of the 9th Parliament. In 1900, he was elected in the riding of Wentworth North and Brant. He was elected in 1904 and 1908 in the riding of Brant but was defeated in 1911. From 1896 to 1897, he was Controller of Customs and from 1897 to 1911 was Minister of Customs.^[2]

While Minister of Customs, he and W.A. Fielding, Minister Finance, negotiated the Reciprocity Agreement of 1911. Paterson, along with the Government, was defeated on December 21, 1911 on the reciprocity issue. He then retired from active business and public life.

Paterson was deputy reeve of Brantford from 1869 to 1871 and mayor from 1872 to 1873.^[2]

On the occasion of his first election to Parliament Paterson's wife recorded on August 30, 1872: 'Grand Reform picnic in Burford where His Worship was presented with a token of regard in the shape of a walking stick – of curious workmanship and silver band with inscription: "Presented to William Paterson, Esq. Mayor of Brantford, on his Election as member of the House of Commons for South Riding of the County of Brant Ontario, on the 19th August 1872, by many friends."'

Family legend has it that the cane was carved by Smoke Johnson, elder of the Six Nations community south of Brantford. The election was only two weeks before the presentation so the cane was in existence before the election and had the silver band applied just prior to the Grand Reform picnic where the cane was presented.

A photo of the walking cane is here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cane_Top_Half.jpg

References

1. "William Paterson fonds". Trent University.
2. William Paterson – Parliament of Canada biography