David Mills (Canadian politician)

The Honourable David Mills PC
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Bothwell
In office 1867–1882
Succeeded by	John Joseph Hawkins
In office 1884–1896
Preceded by	John Joseph Hawkins
Succeeded by	James Clancy
Senator for Bothwell, Ontario
In office 1896–1902
Appointed by	Wilfrid Laurier
Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
In office 1902–1903
Nominated by	Wilfrid Laurier
Preceded by	John Wellington Gwynne
Succeeded by	Wallace Nesbitt
Superintendent-general on Indian Affairs
In office October 24, 1876 – October 8, 1878
Preceded by	David Laird
Succeeded by	John A. Macdonald
Personal details
Born	(1831-03-18)March 18, 1831 Orford Township, Upper Canada
Died	May 8, 1903(1903-05-08) (aged 72) Ottawa, Ontario
Political party	Liberal
Alma mater	University of Michigan

David Mills, PC (March 18, 1831 – May 8, 1903) was a Canadian politician, author, poet and puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.

He was born in Palmyra, in southwestern Upper Canada (now Ontario). His father, Nathaniel Mills, was one of the first settlers in the area. Mills served as superintendent of schools for Kent County from 1856 to 1865. He then attended the University of Michigan School of law, graduating with honors in 1867 with an LL.B degree.

He published The Present and Future Political Aspects of Canada in 1860 and The Blunders of the Dominion Government in connection with the North-West Territory in 1871.

Mills was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada as a Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) in the 1867 federal election and re-elected in four subsequent votes until being defeated in the 1882 election. He was an opponent of dual representation (the practice in which someone could simultaneously be a member of parliament as well as a member of the Ontario or Quebec legislature. He unsuccessfully introduced a private member's bill to abolish this practice, and continued to advocate for this until it was abolished in 1873.

During the debates surrounding the creation of the Supreme Court of Canada in 1875, Mills was one of the few exceptions who opposed granting the court jurisdiction over provincial law, as he viewed it as contrary to Canada's federalist structure.

He returned to Parliament through an 1884 by-election. He was re-elected in subsequent elections until his defeat in the 1896 election despite this being the election that brought the Liberals back to power.

He served as Minister of the Interior in the Cabinet of Alexander Mackenzie from 1876 to 1878. Sir Wilfrid Laurier appointed Mills to the Senate of Canada after he lost his Commons seat in 1896, and appointed him to Cabinet as Minister of Justice and Leader of the Government in the Canadian Senate. He resigned from the Senate and Cabinet in 1902. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada on February 8, 1902, and served on the Court for one year until his death in 1903.

Electoral record

1867 Canadian federal election: Bothwell
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	David Mills	1,333
	Conservative	David Glass	1,224
Source: Canadian Elections Database

1872 Canadian federal election
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	David Mills	1,727
	Unknown	C. R. Atkinson	1,135

1874 Canadian federal election: Bothwell
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	David Mills	1,600
	Unknown	? Dobbyn	1,137

Mr. David Mills was appointed Minister of the Interior and Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, 24 October 1876:

By-election on 15 November 1876
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	David Mills	1,650
	Unknown	James Dawson	1,142

1878 Canadian federal election: Bothwell
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	David Mills	1,852
	Liberal–Conservative	John Joseph Hawkins
Source: Canadian Elections Database

Election declared void Mr. J.J. Hawkins was declared not duly elected and was unseated by judgement of Supreme Court. The seat was awarded to his opponent, 25 February 1884:

By-election on 25 February 1884
Party		Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	David Mills	acclaimed

1887 Canadian federal election: Bothwell
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	David Mills	2,182
	Conservative	Geo. M. D. Mitchell	2,161

1891 Canadian federal election: Bothwell
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	David Mills	2,006
	Conservative	G. R. Langford	1,456
	Unknown	A. McLartey	1,088

References

• "David Mills". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.
• Selected poetry of David Mills
• David Mills – Parliament of Canada biography
• Supreme Court of Canada biography

External links

• Works by or about David Mills at the Internet Archive