Newton Rowell
Newton Wesley Rowell (1867-1941) was a prominent Canadian lawyer, politician, and public servant. Born on a farm near Arva, Ontario, he pursued an education in law after completing his studies at a community school and a business course. Rowell became a respected attorney, serving as king's counsel and later founding his own law firm. His political career began in 1911 when he was elected to the Ontario legislature, where he became a leader of the Liberal opposition, advocating for urban issues and prohibition.
Rowell transitioned to federal politics in 1917, contributing significantly to healthcare in Canada as the first Minister of Health following the introduction of the federal Department of Health. He played a crucial role in the Persons Case, which affirmed women’s status as persons under Canadian law. Later, he was appointed chief justice of Ontario and led the Rowell-Sirois Commission, which addressed challenges in Canadian federalism during the 1930s. Rowell's dedication to law and public service left a lasting impact on Canadian society until his passing in 1941.
Subject Terms
Newton Rowell
Lawyer and politician
- Born: November 1, 1867
- Birthplace: Ontario
- Died: Toronto, Ontario
- Place of death: November 22, 1941
Contribution: Newton Wesley Rowell was a prominent Canadian lawyer, judge, and politician. He served as a Liberal member of the House of Commons, as chief justice of Ontario, and as Canada’s first federal minister of health. Rowell was a strong proponent of women’s rights and an advocate for greater federal involvement in social services.
Early Years and Education
Newton Wesley Rowell was born on November 1, 1867, on a farm near the village of Arva in Ontario. He was the fourth child of Joseph Rowell, a farmer and Methodist preacher, and Nancy Green.
In 1883, after studying for six years at the community school, Newton enrolled in a short business course in London, Ontario, and then worked at his uncle’s business. Rowell continued his studies while working and passed his high school matriculation exams in 1886.
Since he did not have the money for university, Rowell became an apprentice with Fraser and Fraser, a law firm in London, Ontario. In 1891, he moved to Toronto, where he passed the exams of the Law Society of Upper Canada, finishing second out of forty students.
Career
Upon passing his exams, Rowell was employed by Isidore Frederick Hellmuth, one of Ontario’s most well-known and respected lawyers, and soon became a heralded attorney in the legal community. In 1902, Rowell was appointed a king’s counsel, and by 1903, he had founded and was the acting senior partner of the firm Rowell, Reid, and Wood. Also during this time, Rowell became more involved in the Methodist church, and following in his father’s footsteps, he became a lay preacher in 1889.
In 1911, Rowell ventured into politics and served in the Ontario legislature from 1911 to 1917 as a leader of the Liberal opposition. During this time, the Liberal Party developed its commitment to urban issues and prohibition. Rowell moved to federal politics in 1917 and from 1917 to 1921, served in Parliament as a Liberal member of the House of Commons. He served in the government of Prime Minister Robert Borden as president of the privy council and vice chairman of the war committee. In 1919, in an effort to consolidate federal medical care, Rowell introduced Bill 37, An Act Respecting the Department of Health. On July 1, 1919, the federal Department of Health was created, with Rowell serving as Canada’s first minister of health.
In 1921, Rowell left Parliament and returned to the practice of law. He was involved in numerous high profile and noteworthy cases, including the Persons Case, which found that, under the British North America Act, women were persons and, therefore, could be appointed to the Senate. In 1932, Rowell was appointed president of the Canadian Bar Association. A few years later, he was appointed chief justice of Ontario, a position he held until ill health forced him to resign in 1938.
Rowell-Sirois Commission
In 1937, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King established the Royal Commission on Dominion-Provincial Relations, appointing Rowell and Professor Joseph Sirois as its two commissioners. The role of the commission, which came to be known as the Rowell-Sirois Commission, was to examine the basis of Canadian federalism and how it failed to respond to the fiscal crisis of the 1930s. The commission made numerous recommendations, including the introduction of a system of federal grants to poor provinces for social services. Rowell served on the commission until 1938, when he resigned because of ill health.
Personal Life
Rowell married Nellie Langford on June 27, 1901. They had three sons and one daughter. Rowell suffered a heart attack on May 7, 1938, and a subsequent stroke. He died in Toronto three years later on November 22, 1941.
Bibliography
Prang, Margaret E. N. W. Rowell, Ontario Nationalist. Toronto: U of Toronto P, 1975. Print.
Prang, Margaret E. “Rowell, Newton Wesley.” Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. 17. Toronto: U of Toronto P, 2009. Print.
“ROWELL, The Hon. Newton Wesley, P.C.” Parliament of Canada. Lib. of Parliament, n.d. Web. 12 Aug. 2013.
Sharpe, Robert J., and Patricia I. McMahon. The Persons Case: The Origins and Legacy of the Fight for Legal Personhood. Toronto: U of Toronto P, 2007. Print.
Smiley, D. V. “The Rowell-Sirois Report, Provincial Autonomy, and Post-War Canadian Federalism.” Canadian Journal of Economics and Political Science 28.1 (1962): 54–69. Print.