Rupert Mearse Wells

Rupert Mearse Wells
Member of Parliament for Bruce East
In office 1883–1887
Preceded by	New riding
Succeeded by	Henry Cargill
Ontario MPP
In office 1872–1882
Preceded by	Edward Blake
Succeeded by	Hamilton Parke O'Connor
Constituency	Bruce South
4th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
In office 1874–1879
Preceded by	James Currie
Succeeded by	Charles Clarke
Personal details
Born	(1835-11-28)November 28, 1835 Prescott County, Upper Canada
Died	May 11, 1902(1902-05-11) (aged 66)
Political party	Liberal
Occupation	Lawyer

Rupert Mearse Wells (November 28, 1835 – May 11, 1902) was speaker of the Legislature of Ontario in 1874 to 1879 and served as Liberal MLA for Bruce South from 1872 to 1882. He represented Bruce East in the House of Commons of Canada from 1883 to 1887 as a Liberal.

He was born in Prescott County in Upper Canada in 1835 and attended the University of Toronto. He studied law, was called to the bar in 1857 and entered the practice of law in L'Orignal. He joined the law practice of Edward Blake in 1860 and left that firm to partner with Angus Morrison in 1870. He served as attorney for York County and the city of Toronto in 1872. He was elected to the provincial legislature in an 1872 by-election after Edward Blake resigned to retain his seat in the federal parliament. In 1876, he was named Queen's Counsel.

Electoral history

Ontario provincial by-election, September 21, 1872: Bruce South Resignation of Edward Blake
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal	Rupert Mearse Wells	1,782	52.14
	Conservative	Mr. Brocelbank	1,636	47.86
Total valid votes			3,418	100.0
	Liberal hold		Swing
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario

1875 Ontario general election: Bruce South
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Rupert Mearse Wells	1,864	65.87	+13.73
	Conservative	D.W. Ross	966	34.13	−13.73
Turnout			2,830	49.26
Eligible voters			5,745
	Liberal hold		Swing		+13.73
Source: Elections Ontario

1879 Ontario general election: Bruce South
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Rupert Mearse Wells	2,866	50.62	−15.25
	Conservative	Mr. Baird	2,796	49.38	+15.25
Total valid votes			5,662	72.67	+23.41
Eligible voters			7,791
	Liberal hold		Swing		−15.25
Source: Elections Ontario

External links

• Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history
• Rupert Mearse Wells – Parliament of Canada biography
• The Canadian parliamentary companion and annual register, 1879, CH Mackintosh
• The Canadian Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-made Men. Vol. Ontario. Toronto: American Biographical Publishing Company. 1880. pp. 111–112.