Robert Rogers (Manitoba politician)

Robert Rogers,PC(March 2, 1864 – July 21, 1936) was aCanadianmerchant and politician. He served as acabinet ministerat the federal and provincial levels.

The Hon. Robert Rogers
Member of theCanadian Parliament forWinnipeg
In office 1911–1917
Preceded by	Alexander Haggart
Succeeded by	District was abolished in 1914
Member of theCanadian Parliament forWinnipeg South
In office 1925–1926
Preceded by	Albert Hudson
Succeeded by	John Stewart McDiarmid
In office 1930–1935
Preceded by	John Stewart McDiarmid
Succeeded by	Leslie Mutch
Member of theLegislative Assembly of ManitobaforManitou
In office 1899–1911
Personal details
Born	(1864-03-02)March 2, 1864 Lakefield,Canada East(present-dayGore, Quebec)
Died	July 21, 1936(1936-07-21)(aged 72)
Political party	Conservative
Cabinet	Provincial: Minister Without Portfolio (1900) Minister of Public Works (1900–1911) Federal: Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs (1911–1912) Minister of the Interior (1911–1912) Minister of Mines (1912) Minister of Public Works (1912–1917)

Rogers was born in LakefieldCanada East(nowGore, Quebec), the son ofLieutenant-ColonelGeorge Rogers. He was educated inLachute,BerthierandMontreal,and later moved toWinnipeg,Manitobato become director of the Monarch Life Assurance Company. In religion, he was a member of theChurch of England.

Manitoba politics

He contestedLisgarin the1896 federal electionas a candidate of the federalConservative Party,and lost toLiberalRobert Lorne Richardsonby fifty-four votes. He was 32 years old.

Rogers was elected to theLegislative Assembly of Manitobain the1899 provincial electionas aConservativecandidate, defeating Liberal candidateJ.L. Brownby twenty-eight votes inManitou.The Conservatives won this election, and Rogers sat in the legislature as a backbench supporter ofHugh John Macdonald's administration. WhenRodmond Roblinsucceeded Macdonald aspremieron October 29, 1900, he appointed Rogers as aminister without portfolio.

On December 20, 1900, Rogers was promoted to the powerful position ofMinister of Public Works.He remained in this position for eleven years, and was often regarded as the second most powerful figure in Roblin's cabinet, helping the premier construct an effective patronage network. He was re-elected without difficulty in the campaigns of1903,1907and1910.

Federal politics

Rogers turned to federal politics in 1911. The federal Conservative Party underRobert BordendefeatedWilfrid Laurier's governing Liberals in the1911 federal election,due in part to assistance from Roblin's electoral machine in Manitoba. Although Rogers was not a candidate in the election, he was appointed as Canada'sMinister of the InteriorandSuperintendent-General of Indian Affairson October 10, 1911. Seventeen days later, he was acclaimed to the House of Commons in aby-electionforWinnipeg.

Rogers was given additional responsibilities asMinister of Mineson March 30, 1912. On October 29, 1912, he left his other portfolios to become Canada'sMinister of Public Works,a position which he held for five years. He did not seek re-election in1917.

He attempted to return to the House of Commons for Lisgar in the1921 election,but lost toProgressivecandidateJohn Livingstone Brownby 1,164 votes.

Rogers was returned to parliament in the1925 election,defeating former Liberal premierTobias Norrisby 1,617 votes inWinnipeg South.In thefollowing year's election,he lost his seat to LiberalJohn Stewart McDiarmidby 1,171 votes.

He was a candidate at theConservative Party leadership conventionin 1927. He finished fifth out of six candidates. His vote mostly vanished in the second vote - the leader was elected through run-off voting. His lack of French ended his drive for the leadership.

Rogers won election to the House of Commons for a third time in the1930 election,defeating McDiarmid by 343 votes. He was not included in the cabinet of Conservativeprime ministerRichard Bennett,and retired from politics in 1935. He died the following year.

External links

• Robert Rogers – Parliament of Canada biography