John D. Bracken (1883-1969)

Professor, MLA (1923-1927), MLA (1927-1932), Premier of Manitoba (1922-1943), MLA (1933-1936), MLA (1937-1940), MLA (1941-1945), MP (1945-1949).

Born in Ellisville, Ontario on 22 June 1883, son of B. M. Bracken and Alberta Gilbert, he graduated from the Ontario Agricultural College. He was a government employee until he became a professor of field husbandry at the University of Saskatchewan in 1910. Ten years later he took an appointment as principal of the Manitoba Agricultural College. One of his activities was a major survey of farm conditions in Manitoba. Within two years he had become premier of the province, his seat in the legislature representing The Pas. Although he regarded himself as a Progressive, most of his governments were of the coalition variety, distinguished for their cautious non-partisanship and reflection of the rural interests of the province.

In 1943 Bracken reluctantly became the leader of the federal Conservative Party, insisting that it add the word “Progressive” to its name. He was not a successful leader. He did not actually enter the House of Commons until 1945 (from Neepawa), and he lacked charisma. On the other hand, he did push the party towards acceptance of the welfare state. Bracken stepped down from the leadership in 1948, subsequently serving as chair of a royal commission on the liquor laws of Manitoba.

In 1909, he married Alice Wylie Bruce (?-1971), with whom he had four sons. The couple was inducted into the Manitoba Order of the Buffalo Hunt on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary, on 22 June 1959. He had received an honorary degree from the University of Manitoba in 1927.

He wrote two books, Crop Production in Western Canada (1920) and Dry Farming in Western Canada (1921), the latter book appearing just as the worst drought in Prairie history began.

He died on 18 March 1969. There are papers at the Archives of Manitoba.

He was inducated to the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame.

More information:

Documents and Archives: The Bracken Collection at the Provincial Archives of Manitoba
Manitoba History, Number 13, Spring 1987

John Bracken by John Kendle (1979).

Sources:

“Free Press Necrology Files”, Winnipeg Elite Study, G. Friesen Fonds, Mss 154, Box 15, File 16, University of Manitoba Archives]

Profile revised: 20 December 2009

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