Williams, George Hara

  • From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: See full biography at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hara_Williams
  • Wiki Biography Notes:
    • George Hara Williams (November 17, 1894 – September 12, 1945) was a Canadian farmer activist and politician
    • Born in Binscarth, Manitoba, Williams attended Manitoba Agricultural College after serving in World War I. Upon graduating, he moved to Saskatchewan to become director of livestock and equipment in the province for the federal Soldier Settlement Board.
    • He began farming himself and joined and became an organizer for the Farmers Union of Canada in 1923. He served as president of its successor, the United Farmers of Canada, from 1929 to 1931, and steered it towards political action. Williams brought a militant class struggle perspective to the organization. He was also involved with the Marxist Farmers’ Educational League and was founder and secretary of the short-lived Farmers’ Political Association formed in 1924.
    • Williams’s style and militancy alienated some party activists, who called on Tommy Douglas, a popular CCF MP in the House of Commons, to take over the provincial party leadership.
    • In 1941 Williams resigned his seat in the legislature to serve in the Canadian Army during World War II with the rank of Major in the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps. John Hewgill Brockelbank, a Williams loyalist, became the CCF’s house leader while Williams retained the party presidency and leadership. Douglas challenged Williams for the position of Saskatchewan CCF president at the 1941 party convention and was elected. In 1942, Douglas was elected party leader. Williams returned to Canada prior to the 1944 Saskatchewan election and helped rally rural support for the party in its successful election campaign. Williams was appointed Minister of Agriculture in the new CCF government, but he resigned in February 1945 for ill health. He died later that year in Vancouver.
  • Third Great Grandson of United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=968
  • Find A Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59342457/george-hara-williams