William Foster Cockshutt

William Foster Cockshutt
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Brantford
In office
1904–1908
Preceded byDistrict was created in 1903
Succeeded byLloyd Harris
In office
1911–1921
Preceded byLloyd Harris
Succeeded byWilliam Gawtress Raymond
Personal details
Born(1855-10-17)October 17, 1855
Brantford, Canada West
DiedNovember 22, 1939(1939-11-22) (aged 84)
Political partyConservative

William Foster Cockshutt (October 17, 1855 – November 22, 1939) was a Canadian politician.

Born in Brantford, Canada West, the son of Ignatius Cockshutt, Cockshutt was educated in Brantford and at the Galt College Institute. He worked for a produce firm and in a tea warehouse in England before returning to Ontario and entering the family business in partnership with his brother James.[1] A merchant and manufacturer, he was a member of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission. He was president of the Cockshutt Plow Company from 1885 until 1888, stepping in after his brother's death from tuberculosis at 34 years of age. In 1888, he was named president of the local Board of Trade.[2]

Cockshutt was an unsuccessful candidate in the federal riding of Brant South in 1887. He was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada for the electoral district of Brantford in the 1904 general elections. A Conservative, he was defeated in 1908. He was re-elected in 1911 and 1917. He was defeated again in 1921. He was an honorary colonel of the 125th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force.

In 1891, he married Minnie Turner Ashton.[1]

  1. ^ a b Reville, Frederick Douglas (1920). History of the county of Brant. pp. 374–6. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  2. ^ Cochrane, William (1891). The Canadian album : men of Canada; or, Success by example ... p. 30. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2009.