Frederick McMahon
Frederick Joseph McMahon (1914 - March 6, 1988) was a Canadian politician and lawyer. He was a public official in Ontario. As a lawyer, McMahon was best known for defending the bank robber Edwin Alonzo Boyd and his brother Norman in their 1952 trials.[1] He was also reeve of North York, Ontario. Later, he was a provincial judge.[2]
McMahon was born in Toronto. He studied law at Osgoode Hall before joining the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. After his time in the Navy, he began his law practice in the Toronto suburb of North York. In 1945, He moved to the township of North York and begun his law practice.[3]
McMahon was first elected to North York township council in January 1950.[4] In 1952, he ran against reeve Nelson Boylen. He defeated Boylen in an upset victory by more than 1,500 votes. In the campaign, he promised to bring industry to the mostly rural municipality. He also promised to expand the municipal government to match North York's population growth since the war.[1][3][5]
McMahon feared that North York was facing bankruptcy. This caused him to support the province's proposal to join with the city of Toronto and its 12 surrounding townships and villages to create Metropolitan Toronto in 1953.[6][7]
McMahon was re-elected in 1953, 1954, and 1955.[8][9]
As a member of Metropolitan Toronto's executive committee, McMahon supported the fluoridation of water.[10] He tried to enter provincial politics in the 1955 provincial election. McMahon ran as the Liberal candidate in York Centre. He lost to Conservative Thomas Graham.[1][3][11] McMahon did try to be re-elected in 1956.[12]
In 1969, the provincial government appointed McMahon to the bench as a provincial court judge.[13]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "McMahon defeats Boylen in N. York", Toronto Daily Star, December 2, 1952, page 22.
- ↑ "McMahon, Frederick Joseph" (obituary) Toronto Star, March 7, 1988, page C10.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "York Centre - Reeve and Deputy Vie for Seat in New Riding", Globe & Mail, June 2, 1955, page 4.
- ↑ "3 Big Issues in North York Election, Globe & Mail, December 2, 1950, page 4.
- ↑ "Lawyer Provides Upset: 3-Time North York Reeve Beaten", Globe & Mail, December 2, 1952, page C5.
- ↑ "Mayors, Reeves Happy, Yet Fearful Suburbs May Be Rubber Stamps", by Alden Baker, Globe & Mail, January 22, 1953, page 9
- ↑ "North York Nearly Bankrupt, Metro Saved It, Reeve Says", Globe & Mail, January 18, 1955, page 4
- ↑ "Acclaim McMahon In North York; Race for Council", Globe & Mail, November 24, 1953, page 5.
- ↑ "Fred McMahon Is Re-elected N. York Reeve", Globe & Mail, December 6, 1955, page 13
- ↑ "Vote 3-to-2 to Appeal Ruling on Fluoridation", March 28, 1956, page 5.
- ↑ https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vCAvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TN0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4268%2C2256424
- ↑ "Reeve Retires After 4 Years In North York", Globe & Mail, September 14, 1956, page 5.
- ↑ "Just rewards: Metro councillors go on to bigger and better things", by Alden Baker, Globe & Mail, July 19, 1976, page 5.