Arthur Meighen Ontario Historical Site Plaque

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Plaques

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Arthur Meighen – 1874 – 1960

A controversial Nine Foot Bronze Statue of the Rt. Honourable Arthur Meighen, stored in the Ottawa Warehouse since it” completion in 1968, Was erected at the Lind Park, On Church Street in St.Marys, Ontario in 1987. Blanshard Township, Perth, County.

History of Arthur Meighen

On concession 1 Lot `12 near Flat Creek, Blanshard Township, Perth County, the first deed of land was granted to Gordon Meighen on the 27 day of November 1844, Gordon was Arthur Meighen's Grandfather. Arthur Meighen was born in 1874 in the hamlet of Anderson, west of St. Marys, Blanshard township, Perth County. He attended public school and High School in St. Marys and the University of Toronto.

Sir Arthur Meighen was first elected as Member of Parliament in 1908. He held several cabinet posts under the Conservative Government of Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden. He served as solicitor General, Secretary of State and Minister of the Interior. He served as Prime Minister July 1920-December 1921 and again for four months in the summer of 1926. He was instrumental in the creation of the Canadian Railway. In 1942 he retired from politics. Arthur died in Toronto, in 1960, and is buried in St. Marys Cemetery, St. Marys Ontario.

The Kirkton Women's Institute members sponsored one of the first historical plaques erected in Perth County, when one was erected for the Right Honourable Arthur Meighen, former Prime Minister of Canada near his birthplace at Anderson Ontario August 27, 1961. Mrs. Meighen and family were present for the ceremony.

Inscriptions

Plaque reads:

"Rt Hon. Arthur Meighan
1874-1960

Born on a farm near here, Meighen graduated from the University of Toronto in 1896 and in 1902 moved to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, to practise law. In 1908 he was elected to the federal parliament as Conservative member for that riding. He served successively as solicitor-general, secretary of state and minister of the interior under Sir Robert Borden, whom he succeeded as prime minister from 1920 to 1921. He again served briefly as prime minister in 1926. Leader of the opposition 1921-26, he excelled as an orator and debater. Appointed to the senate in 1932, he resigned in 1942 to contest South York riding, was defeated and retired from politics.

Erected by the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board"

Date of Publication