Peter Gow (politician)

For the Ontario MPP in the 20th century, see Peter Gow Cameron.

Peter Gow
Ontario MPP
In office 1867–1876
Preceded by	Riding established
Succeeded by	James Massie
Constituency	Wellington South
10th Mayor of Guelph
In office 1866–1867
Preceded by	William Clarke
Succeeded by	Nathaniel Higinbotham
Personal details
Born	(1818-11-20)November 20, 1818 Johnstone, Scotland
Died	February 24, 1886(1886-02-24) (aged 67) Guelph, Ontario
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Mary Maxwell Smith ​ (m. 1857)​
Children	6
Occupation	Businessman

Peter Gow (November 20, 1818 – February 24, 1886) was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1867 to 1876.

Background

He was born in Johnstone, Scotland in 1818, the son of a shoemaker, and came to Brockville in Canada West in 1842. He later moved to Guelph, where he built mills on the Speed River, operated a tannery and produced shoes. He served on the school board and the town council in Guelph; he became reeve in 1857 and served as mayor in 1866 and 1867. He married Mary Maxwell Smith, in 1857 and they had six children.

In 1874, he was elected as the first president of the Ontario Branch of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club.

Politics

In 1867, he was elected to represent Wellington South in the 1st Parliament of Ontario as a Liberal member; he was re-elected in 1871 and 1875. In both those elections, the Conservative Party chose not to run a candidate and Gow was acclaimed. He served as Provincial Secretary and Registrar of Ontario from December 1871 to October 1872. During that time, the Mowat government made the decision to locate the Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph.

Electoral history

1867 Ontario general election: Wellington South
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal	Peter Gow	940	58.42
	Conservative	Mr. Leslie	669	41.58
Total valid votes			1,609	74.56
Eligible voters			2,158
	Liberal pickup new district.
Source: Elections Ontario

1871 Ontario general election: Wellington South
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	Peter Gow	Acclaimed
Source: Elections Ontario

Ontario provincial by-election, January 1872: Wellington South Ministerial by-election
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	Peter Gow	Acclaimed
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario

1875 Ontario general election: Wellington South
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	Peter Gow	Acclaimed
Source: Elections Ontario

Later life

In 1876, he resigned for health reasons and was appointed sheriff for Wellington County, continuing to serve until his death in Guelph in 1886.

External links

• "Peter Gow". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.
• Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history