James Bonfield

James Bonfield
Ontario MPP
In office 1875–1883
Preceded by	Eric Harrington
Succeeded by	John Francis Dowling
Constituency	Renfrew South
Personal details
Born	1825 (1825) Gortmore, County Tipperary, Ireland
Died	1883 (aged 57–58) Toronto, Ontario
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Catherine Tracy
Occupation	Lumber merchant

James Bonfield (1825 – January 29, 1883) was an Ontario merchant and political figure. He represented Renfrew South in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1875 to 1883 as a Liberal member.

He was born in Gortmore, County Tipperary, Ireland in 1825, the son of John Bonfield, and came to Canada in 1848. He worked as a clerk for lumber merchant John Egan, later opened his own general store and afterwards became a lumber merchant in Eganville. He served as reeve for Grattan Township. In 1854, he married Catherine Tracy.

His daughter Elizabeth married John Francis Dowling who also represented Renfrew South in the provincial assembly.

The Township of Bonfield, Ontario was named in his honour.

Electoral history

1875 Ontario general election: Renfrew South
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Liberal	James Bonfield	Acclaimed
Source: Elections Ontario

1879 Ontario general election: Renfrew South
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal	James Bonfield	837	54.28
	Conservative	Eric Harrington	705	45.72
Total valid votes			1,542	67.72
Eligible voters			2,277
	Liberal hold		Swing		–
Source: Elections Ontario

External links

• The Canadian parliamentary companion, 1881, CH Mackintosh
• Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history
• The Canadian biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men ... (1880)