Robert H. McGregor | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for York East | |
| In office 14 October 1935 – 17 June 1962 | |
| Preceded by | Riding created |
| Succeeded by | Steve Otto |
| Member of Parliament for York South | |
| In office 14 September 1926 – 13 October 1935 | |
| Preceded by | William Findlay Maclean |
| Succeeded by | Earl Lawson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Henry McGregor 1 March 1886 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | 25 January 1965 (aged 78) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party |
|
| Spouse(s) |
Olive Linda Moorcroft
(m. 1907; died 1926)Estelle Orr (m. 1929) |
| Children | 3 |
| Profession | Horticulturist |
Robert Henry McGregor PC (1 March 1886 – 25 October 1965) was a long-time Canadian parliamentarian.
MacGregor was a contractor and horticulturalist by profession. He grew up in the Todmorden area of suburban Toronto, and was once an Elementary School student of a teacher named William Thomas Diefenbaker, father of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. His initial experience in politics began in 1912 when he was appointed a school trustee for York Township. Following the formation of North York Township, he eventually became the first reeve of East York. In 1922, R.H. McGregor Elementary School, located in the eventual centre of East York, was erected and named in his honour.
He was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1926 federal election and sat continuously in the chamber for thirty-six years until his defeat in the 1962 federal election when he was 79 years old.[2]
Originally elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament for York South, he switched to the new Toronto riding of York East when it was created for the 1935 federal election. He won election a total of eight consecutive times[2] and was Dean of the House of Commons being its longest-serving member in the last years of his career.[3]
Despite his long tenure in the House of Commons he spoke rarely and was nicknamed "Silent Bob" McGregor. His only recorded Parliamentary speech occurred when being feted in the House on his 74th birthday. On that occasion he remarked "If a good many hon. Members made fewer speeches in the House, they would be here longer."[1][3]
Though never a member of Cabinet, he was elevated to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada on 21 December 1960, on Diefenbaker's recommendation in recognition of McGregor's long tenure of service.[4]