James Metcalfe (York East MP)

Not to be confused with James Henry Metcalfe.

James Metcalfe
Member of Parliament
for York East
In office
1867–1878
Preceded byRiding established
Succeeded byAlfred Boultbee
Personal details
Born1822
Cumberland, England
Died(1886-09-13)September 13, 1886
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political partyLiberal
SpouseEllen Howson
ProfessionBuilding contractor
Picture source: Library and Archives Canada

James Metcalfe (1822 – September 13, 1886) was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented York East in the House of Commons of Canada as a Liberal member from 1867 to 1878.[1]

He was born in Cumberland, England in 1822,[1] the son of James Metcalfe and Anne Finlinson and was educated in Manchester. He studied architecture with his father there. In 1841, Metcalfe emigrated to Upper Canada and worked as a building contractor in Toronto. In 1843, he married Ellen Howson. In 1851, he went to Australia, again working as a contractor builder in Melbourne, where he built several public buildings. He returned to Toronto in 1858[2] and later served as vice-president of the Royal Canadian Bank.[3]


1867 Canadian federal election: York East
Party Candidate Votes
  Liberal James Metcalfe 1,174
  Unknown T. A. Milne 937
Eligible voters 2,863
Source: Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1871[4]
1872 Canadian federal election: York East/York-Est
Party Candidate Votes
  Liberal James Metcalfe acc.
Source: Canadian Elections Database[5]
1874 Canadian federal election: York East
Party Candidate Votes
  Liberal James Metcalfe acc.
lop.parl.ca
1878 Canadian federal election: York East
Party Candidate Votes
  Conservative Alfred Boultbee 1,526
  Liberal James Metcalfe 1,460
  1. ^ a b James Metcalfe – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. ^ The Canadian Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-made Men. Vol. Ontario. Toronto: American Biographical Publishing Company. 1880. pp. 336–340.
  3. ^ * CH Mackintosh, ed. (1878). The Canadian Parliamentary Companion and Annual Register. Ottawa: Citizen Print. and Pub. Company. p. 154.
  4. ^ "Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1871". Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  5. ^ Sayers, Anthony M. "1872 Federal Election". Canadian Elections Database. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024.