1875 Ontario general election
← 1871 January 18, 1875 1879 →
88 seats in the 3rd Legislative Assembly of Ontario
45 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Oliver Mowat Matthew Crooks Cameron
Party Liberal Conservative
Leader since 1872 1871
Leader's seat Oxford North Toronto East
Last election 43 38
Seats won 50 34
Seat change Increase7 Decrease4
Premier before election

Oliver Mowat
Liberal

Premier after election

Oliver Mowat
Liberal

The 1875 Ontario general election was the third general election held in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It was held on January 18, 1875, to elect the 88 Members of the 3rd Legislative Assembly of Ontario ("MLAs").[1]

The Ontario Liberal Party, led by Oliver Mowat, increased its majority in the Legislature for its second term in government.

The Ontario Conservative Party, led by Matthew Crooks Cameron lost four of its seats.

Electoral reforms

The Legislative Assembly had passed several pieces of legislation that impacted on the current election:

Redistribution of ridings

The Assembly was increased from 82 to 88 members,[5] through the following changes:

Abolished ridings New ridings
Divisions of ridings
Creation of riding from parts of others
Mergers of ridings
Reorganization of ridings
  1. ^ formed from parts of Cardwell, Grey South, Wellington North, Wellington Centre and Simcoe South
  2. ^ taken from Simcoe North
Elections to the 3rd Parliament of Ontario (1875)[1]
Political party Party leader MLAs Votes
Candidates 1871 1875 ± # ± % ± (pp)
Liberal Oliver Mowat 84 43 49 6Increase 90,809 22,443Increase 47.55% 4.75Decrease
Conservative Matthew Crooks Cameron 81 38 35 3Decrease 87,802 27,876Increase 45.98% 0.13Increase
Liberal–Conservative 1 – 1 1Increase 1,553 1,553Increase 0.81% New
Independent Conservative 2 – 2 2Increase 2,129 2,129Increase 1.11% New
Independent Liberal 1 – 1 1Increase 1,125 1,125Increase 0.59% New
Conservative-Liberal 1 1 – 1Decrease 791 325Decrease 0.41% 0.44Decrease
Independent 11 – – – 6,757 5,454Increase 3.54% 2.54Increase
Total 181 82 88 190,966 100.00%
Voter turnout 190,966 60,255Increase 67.95 4.35Increase
Registered electors 283,856 76,139Increase
Acclamations █ Liberal 8
█ Conservative 1
Seats and popular vote by party
Party Seats Votes Change (pp)
█ Liberal
49 / 88
47.55%
 -4.75
 
█ Conservative
36 / 88
47.20%
 0.50 0.5
 
█ Other
3 / 88
5.25%
 4.25 4.25
 


Synopsis of results

Results by riding - 1875 Ontario general election[1]
Riding Winning party Turnout Votes
Name[a 1] 1871 Party Votes Share Margin
# 		Margin
% 		Lib Con LC CL I-Lib I-Con Ind Total
 
Addington Lib Lib 1,453 60.77% 515 21.54% 67.91% 1,453 938 – – – – – 2,391
Algoma Con Lib 510 64.31% 227 28.63% 91.25% 510 283 – – – – – 793
Brant North Lib Lib 747 54.17% 115 8.34% 62.54% 747 632 – – – – – 1,379
Brant South Con Lib acclaimed
Brockville Con Lib 1,247 51.51% 73 3.02% 71.35% 1,247 1,174 – – – – – 2,421
Bruce North Lib Lib 1,232 55.95% 262 11.90% 68.75% 1,232 – – – – – 970 2,202
Bruce South Lib Lib 1,864 65.87% 898 31.73% 49.26% 1,864 966 – – – – – 2,830
Cardwell CL Con 1,208 52.80% 128 5.59% 66.82% 1,080 1,208 – – – – – 2,288
Carleton Con Con acclaimed
Cornwall Con Con 499 50.25% 5 0.50% 68.44% 494 499 – – – – – 993
Dufferin New Con 982 46.06% 255 11.96% 66.23% 33 2,099 – – – – – 2,132
Dundas Lib Con 1,458 51.67% 94 3.33% 74.99% 1,364 1,458 – – – – – 2,822
Durham East Con Con 1,454 55.22% 275 10.44% 69.73% 1,179 1,454 – – – – – 2,633
Durham West Lib Lib 1,257 53.95% 184 7.90% 71.52% 1,257 1,073 – – – – – 2,330
Elgin East Lib Lib 1,924 50.31% 24 0.63% 73.85% 1,924 1,900 – – – – – 3,824
Elgin West Lib Con 1,101 50.23% 10 0.46% 78.01% 1,091 1,101 – – – – – 2,192
Essex North New Con 1,209 61.56% 454 23.12% 54.37% – 1,209 – – – – 755 1,964
Essex South New Con 1,014 51.19% 47 2.37% 69.61% 967 1,014 – – – – – 1,981
Frontenac Con Con 884 59.61% 285 19.22% 55.92% 599 884 – – – – – 1,483
Glengarry Con I-Lib 1,125 51.07% 47 2.13% 74.08% 1,078 – – – 1,125 – – 2,203
Grenville South Con Lib 1,136 53.36% 143 6.72% 71.04% 1,136 993 – – – – – 2,129
Grey East New Con 1,297 67.55% 674 35.10% 53.42% 623 1,297 – – – – – 1,920
Grey North Con Con 1,431 53.40% 182 6.79% 67.59% 1,249 1,431 – – – – – 2,680
Grey South Con Lib 1,017 46.27% 293 13.33% 69.29% 1,017 457 – – – – 724 2,198
Haldimand Lib Lib 1,476 53.87% 212 7.74% 75.84% 1,476 1,264 – – – – – 2,740
Halton Lib Lib 1,609 52.58% 158 5.16% 68.18% 1,609 1,451 – – – – – 3,060
Hamilton Lib Lib acclaimed
Hastings East Con I-Con 1,064 63.37% 493 29.36% 58.20% – 615 – – – 1,064 – 1,679
Hastings North Con Con 960 55.14% 179 10.28% 74.62% 781 960 – – – – – 1,741
Hastings West Con Con 720 36.87% 102 5.22% 65.94% 615 720 – – – – 618 1,953
Huron East New Lib 1,530 52.92% 169 5.85% 70.89% 1,530 1,361 – – – – – 2,891
Huron South Lib Lib 1,440 51.39% 78 2.78% 72.53% 1,440 1,362 – – – – – 2,802
Huron West New Lib 1,595 51.48% 92 2.97% 68.59% 1,595 1,503 – – – – – 3,098
Kent East New Lib 1,425 51.76% 97 3.52% 66.27% 1,425 1,328 – – – – – 2,753
Kent West New Con 1,440 52.67% 146 5.34% 58.64% 1,294 1,440 – – – – – 2,734
Kingston Con Con 935 54.17% 144 8.34% 64.55% – 935 – 791 – – – 1,726
Lambton East New Lib 1,443 53.35% 181 6.69% 70.74% 1,443 1,262 – – – – – 2,705
Lambton West New Lib 1,372 64.53% 618 29.07% 57.23% 1,372 754 – – – – – 2,126
Lanark North Lib Con 913 50.72% 26 1.44% 80.07% 887 913 – – – – – 1,800
Lanark South Con Con 1,234 53.68% 169 7.35% 72.57% 1,065 1,234 – – – – – 2,299
Leeds North and Grenville North Con Con 1,035 61.57% 389 23.14% 66.63% – 1,035 – – – – 646 1,681
Leeds South Con Con 1,481 58.70% 439 17.40% 79.87% 1,042 1,481 – – – – – 2,523
Lennox Con I-Con 1,065 54.36% 555 28.33% 53.47% 510 – – – – 1,065 384 1,959
Lincoln New Lib 2,065 51.38% 111 2.76% 75.25% 2,065 1,954 – – – – – 4,019
London Con Con 1,311 52.84% 141 5.68% 60.39% 1,170 1,311 – – – – – 2,481
Middlesex East Con Con 2,185 53.11% 256 6.22% 72.87% 1,929 2,185 – – – – – 4,114
Middlesex North Lib Con 1,565 54.89% 279 9.79% 72.77% 1,286 1,565 – – – – – 2,851
Middlesex West Lib Lib 1,415 54.30% 224 8.60% 71.36% 1,415 1,191 – – – – – 2,606
Monck Con Lib 1,412 56.21% 312 12.42% 74.47% 1,412 1,100 – – – – – 2,512
Muskoka and Parry Sound New Lib 839 58.63% 247 17.26% 65.52% 839 592 – – – – – 1,431
Norfolk North Lib Lib 1,417 52.19% 119 4.38% 75.77% 1,417 1,298 – – – – – 2,715
Norfolk South Lib Con 1,293 58.27% 367 16.54% 64.71% – 1,293 – – – – 926 2,219
Northumberland East Lib Lib 1,551 48.27% 103 3.21% 74.62% 1,765[a 2] 1,448 – – – – – 3,213
Northumberland West Lib Lib 1,251 52.59% 123 5.17% 70.78% 1,251 1,128 – – – – – 2,379
Ontario North Lib Lib 1,858 51.84% 132 3.68% 68.24% 1,858 1,726 – – – – – 3,584
Ontario South Lib Con 1,614 50.52% 33 1.03% 72.91% 1,581 1,614 – – – – – 3,195
Ottawa Lib Lib 852 35.35% 52 2.16% 54.25% 1,652[a 3] 758 – – – – – 2,410
Oxford North Lib Lib acclaimed
Oxford South Lib Lib 1,305 44.27% 43 1.46% 66.05% 1,305 1,262 – – – – 381 2,948
Peel Con Lib 1,349 51.98% 103 3.97% 72.95% 1,349 1,246 – – – – – 2,595
Perth North Con Lib 1,847 51.69% 140 3.92% 68.16% 1,847 1,726[a 4] – – – – – 3,573
Perth South Con Lib 1,508 53.23% 183 6.46% 70.98% 1,508 1,325 – – – – – 2,833
Peterborough East Con Con 759 52.13% 62 4.26% 67.47% 697 759 – – – – – 1,456
Peterborough West Lib Lib 970 51.19% 45 2.37% 71.27% 970 925 – – – – – 1,895
Prescott Con Con 988 62.57% 397 25.14% 59.61% 591 988 – – – – – 1,579
Prince Edward Lib Lib 1,762 50.91% 63 1.82% 77.90% 1,762 1,699 – – – – – 3,461
Renfrew North Con Con 894 53.44% 115 6.87% 76.71% 779 894 – – – – – 1,673
Renfrew South Con Lib acclaimed
Russell Con Con 1,066 61.30% 393 22.60% 49.10% 673 1,066 – – – – – 1,739
Simcoe East New Con 1,133 54.00% 168 8.01% 73.90% 965 1,133 – – – – – 2,098
Simcoe South Con Con 1,057 58.17% 297 16.35% 67.15% 760 1,057 – – – – – 1,817
Simcoe West New Con 1,353 51.15% 61 2.31% 67.63% 1,292 1,353 – – – – – 2,645
Stormont Con Lib 948 53.77% 133 7.54% 77.19% 948 815 – – – – – 1,763
Toronto East Con Con 1,849 53.83% 270 7.86% 54.42% 1,579 1,849 – – – – – 3,435
Toronto West Lib Con 2,145 50.71% 60 1.42% 55.31% 2,085 2,145 – – – – – 4,230
Victoria North Con Lib 724 50.14% 4 0.28% 68.60% 724 720 – – – – – 1,444
Victoria South Lib Lib 1,326 56.38% 300 12.76% 68.29% 1,326 1,026 – – – – – 2,352
Waterloo North Lib Lib 1,363 67.71% 713 35.42% 70.31% 1,363 650 – – – – – 2,013
Waterloo South Lib Lib acclaimed
Welland Lib Lib 1,719 51.16% 78 2.32% 69.48% 1,719 1,641 – – – – – 3,360
Wellington Centre Lib Lib acclaimed
Wellington South Lib Lib acclaimed
Wellington West New L-Con 1,553 51.63% 98 3.26% 73.82% 1,455 – 1,553 – – – – 3,008
Wentworth North Lib Con 1,222 50.48% 23 0.95% 73.72% 1,199 1,222 – – – – – 2,421
Wentworth South Lib Lib 944 71.14% 561 42.28% 44.70% 944 383 – – – – – 1,327
York East Lib Lib 1,266 54.26% 199 8.53% 63.16% 1,266 1,067 – – – – – 2,333
York North Con Lib 1,835 57.69% 489 15.37% 65.36% 1,835 – – – – – 1,346 3,181
York West Lib Lib acclaimed
  1. ^ order is as given in EO reports
  2. ^ the incumbent William Wilson Webb received 214 votes
  3. ^ the incumbent Daniel John O'Donoghue was returned
  4. ^ the incumbent Thomas Mayne Daly received 1,707 votes
  = open seat
  = turnout is above provincial average
  = winning candidate was in previous Legislature
  = incumbent had switched allegiance
  = previously incumbent in another riding
  = not incumbent; was previously elected to the Legislature
  = incumbency arose from byelection gain
  = other incumbents renominated
  = previously an MP in the House of Commons of Canada
  = multiple candidates

Analysis

Party candidates in 2nd place[1]
Party in 1st place Party in 2nd place Total
Accl Lib Con Ind Con-L
Liberal 8 1 37 3 49
Conservative 1 28 1 4 1 35
Independent Conservative 1 1 2
Liberal–Conservative 1 1
Independent Liberal 1 1
Total 9 32 39 7 1 88
Candidates ranked 1st to 5th place, by party[1]
Parties Accl 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
█ Liberal 8 41 32 2 1
█ Conservative 1 34 39 6 1
█ Independent Conservative 2
█ Liberal–Conservative 1
█ Independent Liberal 1
█ Independent 7 3 1
█ Conservative-Liberal 1
Resulting composition of the 2nd Legislative Assembly of Ontario[1]
Source Party
Lib Con L-Con I-Con I-Lib Total
Seats retained Incumbents returned 20 9 29
Returned by acclamation 6 1
Open seats held 1 8 9
Byelection loss reversed 2 1 3
Seats changing hands Incumbents defeated 3 7 10
Open seats gained 4 2 1 1 8
Byelection gains held 5 5
Incumbent changing allegiance 1 2
Returned by acclamation 1 1
New seats New MLAs 4 5 9
Previously incumbent in another riding 3 2 1 6
Total 49 35 1 2 1 88

MLAs elected by region and riding

Party designations are as follows:

  Liberal
  Conservative
  Liberal-Conservative
  Independent Conservative
  Independent Liberal


Controverted elections

The following constituencies had elections which were declared void, for which writs of election were issued and elections held prior to the opening of the first session of the new Legislature:

New elections held upon previous results declared void[6]
Voided result Subsequent outcome
District Candidate Date writ returned Winner
Cornwall   Alexander Fraser McIntyre September 20, 1875   John Goodall Snetsinger
Dundas   Andrew Broder September 28, 1875 Reelected
Essex South   Lewis Wigle September 24, 1875 Reelected
Grey North   Thomas Scott November 3, 1875   David Creighton
Halton   William Barber November 8, 1875   William Durie Lyon
Kent East   Archibald McKellar September 22, 1875   Daniel McCraney
Monck   Henry Ryan Haney June 28, 1875 Reelected
Northumberland East   James Marshall Ferris November 18, 1875 Reelected
Ontario North   Thomas Paxton October 30, 1875 Reelected
Oxford South   Adam Oliver September 14, 1875   Adam Crooks[a 1]
Peterborough East   John C. O'Sullivan September 28, 1875 Reelected
Peterborough West   George Albertus Cox October 30, 1875   William Hepburn Scott
Russell   Adam Jacob Baker August 21, 1875 Reelected
Simcoe South   D'Arcy Edward Boulton June 3, 1875   William McDougall
Victoria North   John David Smith September 29, 1875   Duncan McRae
Welland   James George Currie July 8, 1875 Reelected
Wellington West   John McGowan October 4, 1875 Reelected
Wentworth North   Thomas Stock November 3, 1875   James McMahon
  1. ^ formerly MLA for Toronto West

See also

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ Election overturned on petition to the court. Thomas Hodgins (Liberal) was declared elected.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "1875 general election results". Elections Ontario. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  2. ^ An Act to render Members of the House of Commons of Canada ineligible as Members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, S.O. 1871-72, c. 4
  3. ^ An Act to provide for voting by Ballot at Elections to the Legislative Assembly, S.O. 1874 (1st session), c. 5
  4. ^ "Voting in Ontario Provincial Elections" (PDF). Elections Ontario. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 27, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  5. ^ An Act to re-adjust the Representation in the Legislative Assembly, S.O. 1874 (2nd session), c. 2
  6. ^ Journals of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 1876. pp. 25–30.


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