Charles Richmond Mitchell

For persons of a similar name, see Charles Mitchell (disambiguation).

Charles Richmond Mitchell
Leader of the Official Opposition in Alberta
In office February 19, 1925 – March 12, 1926
Preceded by	John Robert Boyle
Succeeded by	John C. Bowen
Alberta Minister of Health
In office April 29, 1920 – August 13, 1921
Preceded by	Alexander Grant MacKay
Succeeded by	Richard Gavin Reid
Alberta Minister of Municipal Affairs
In office April 29, 1920 – August 13, 1921
Preceded by	Alexander Grant MacKay
Succeeded by	Richard Gavin Reid
Alberta Provincial Treasurer
In office November 28, 1913 – August 13, 1921
Preceded by	Arthur Sifton
Succeeded by	Herbert Greenfield
Alberta Minister of Public Works
In office May 4, 1912 – November 28, 1913
Preceded by	Arthur Sifton
Succeeded by	Charles Stewart
Alberta Minister of Education
In office June 1, 1910 – May 4, 1912
Preceded by	Alexander Cameron Rutherford
Succeeded by	John Robert Boyle
Attorney-General of Alberta
In office June 1, 1910 – May 4, 1912
Preceded by	Charles Wilson Cross
Succeeded by	Charles Wilson Cross
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office June 12, 1913 – March 18, 1926
Preceded by	George Lane
Succeeded by	Joseph Tweed Shaw
Constituency	Bow Valley
In office June 29, 1910 – April 17, 1913
Preceded by	William Thomas Finlay
Succeeded by	Nelson Spencer
Constituency	Medicine Hat
Personal details
Born	November 20, 1872 Newcastle, New Brunswick, Canada
Died	August 16, 1942 (aged 69) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Political party	Liberal
Relations	Peter Mitchell (uncle)
Alma mater	University of New Brunswick King's College
Profession	Lawyer

Charles Richmond Mitchell (November 30, 1872 – August 16, 1942) was a Canadian lawyer, judge, cabinet minister and former Leader of the Official Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.

Early life

Mitchell was born in Newcastle, New Brunswick. At the time, the Mitchells were a prominent local family: Mitchell's father was the Sheriff of Northumberland County and his uncle was Peter Mitchell, a senator and later Premier of New Brunswick.

He went to the University of New Brunswick and King's College and took the New Brunswick bar exam in 1897. The next year he moved to Medicine Hat, at that time in the Northwest Territories, and opened a thriving legal practice. He was appointed as a Judge in 1907 for the Calgary District Court.

Cabinet minister

A Liberal politician, Mitchell was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in a by-election in Medicine Hat provincial electoral district on June 29, 1910, after Premier Arthur L.W. Sifton appointed him to the cabinet on June 1.

Mitchell held two cabinet portfolios as the Minister of Education and the Attorney General of the province. He would serve both portfolios for 2 years until he became Minister of Public Works on May 4, 1912, and dropped the others. In the 1913 Alberta general election Mitchell lost his seat to Nelson Spencer from the Conservative Party. Mitchell was the only Cabinet minister defeated that election, but his was one of a few high-profile defeats across the province.

After his defeat in the 1913 general election, George Lane, the MLA for Bow Valley, resigned to provide a seat for Minister Mitchell. On June 12, 1913, he was acclaimed and again rejoined the government. He would serve Bow Valley as its MLA until his resignation in 1926.

Mitchell was reappointed to the Sifton Cabinet as the provincial Treasurer on November 28, 1913. He became the first Treasurer in Alberta history not to serve simultaneously as premier. He held that position until the United Farmers of Alberta defeated the government in 1921.

On April 29, 1920, Mitchell was appointed to be Minister of Municipal Affairs, in addition to being the Treasurer.

Defeat of government

Mitchell was one of the few Liberal Party members to survive the defeat of the government in 1921. After John Robert Boyle resigned to take a judicial position on October 27, 1924, Mitchell became the fifth leader of the Liberal Party of Alberta. He would serve as Leader of the Official Opposition until he was appointed in 1926 as a Justice to the Supreme Court of Alberta Appellate Division, when he vacated his seat and position as Liberal leader. He resigned not long before the 1926 provincial election, which the UFA won with an increased majority.

He retired from the judiciary in 1936.

Death

Mitchell died in 1942 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Electoral record

1910 by-election

Alberta provincial by-election, June 29, 1910: Medicine Hat Upon the resignation of William T. Finlay
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Charles Richmond Mitchell	1,134	62.86%	-8.80%
	Conservative	Walter Huckvale	670	37.14%	8.80%
Total			1,804	–	–
Rejected, spoiled and declined			N/A	–	–
Eligible electors / turnout			N/A	N/A	–
	Liberal hold		Swing		-8.80%
Source(s) "By-elections". elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

1913 general election

1913 Alberta general election: Medicine Hat
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Nelson Spencer	1,843	50.27%	12.58%
	Liberal	Charles Richmond Mitchell	1,823	49.73%	-12.58%
Total			3,666	–	–
Rejected, spoiled and declined			N/A	–	–
Eligible electors / turnout			N/A	N/A	–
	Conservative gain from Liberal		Swing		-12.58%
Source(s) Source: "Medicine Hat Official Results 1913 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

Alberta provincial by-election, June 12, 1913: Bow Valley
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	Charles Richmond Mitchell	Acclaimed
Called due to resignation of G. Lane to provide seat
Source: "By-elections for the Period of 1905 – 1973". Elections Alberta. Retrieved 2015-06-30.

1917 Alberta general election: Bow Valley
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Charles Richmond Mitchell	604	58.13%	-3.65%
	Conservative	Edmund F. Purcell	435	41.87%	3.65%
Total			1,039	–	–
Rejected, spoiled and declined			N/A	–	–
Eligible electors / turnout			1,466	70.87%	11.58%
	Liberal hold		Swing		-3.65%
Source(s) Source: "Bow Valley Official Results 1917 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

1921 Alberta general election: Bow Valley
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Charles Richmond Mitchell	1,694	72.30%	14.17%
	United Farmers	George A. Love	649	27.70%	–
Total			2,343	–	–
Rejected, spoiled and declined			N/A	–	–
Eligible electors / turnout			2,669	N/A	N/A
	Liberal hold		Swing		14.17%
Source(s) Source: "Bow Valley Official Results 1921 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

References

• Mittelstadt, David (2005). Foundations of justice: Alberta's historic courthouses. Calgary: University of Calgary Press. ISBN 1-55238-123-4.