James Ralston
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The Hon. James Layton Ralston |
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| Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Cumberland | |
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In office 1911–1920 |
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| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Shelburne—Yarmouth |
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In office 1926–1935 |
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| Preceded by | Paul Hatfield |
| Succeeded by | Riding merged into Shelburne—Yarmouth—Clare |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Prince |
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In office 1940–1945 |
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| Preceded by | Alfred Edgar MacLean |
| Succeeded by | John Watson MacNaught |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 27, 1881 Amherst, Nova Scotia |
| Died | May 21, 1948 (aged 66) |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Cabinet | Minister of National Defence (1926–1930 & 1940–1944) Minister of Pensions and National Health (1930) Minister of Finance and Receiver General (1939–1940) |
James Layton Ralston, PC (September 27, 1881 – May 21, 1948) was a Canadian lawyer, soldier and politician.
Born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Ralston graduated from law school at Dalhousie University in 1903 and practised law in Amherst. Ralston was the federal Liberal candidate for Cumberland in the 1908 federal election but was unsuccessful in being elected.
He subsequently entered public life when he ran as the provincial Liberal candidate for Cumberland and was elected in the 1911 provincial election. He was re-elected in 1916.
Ralston served in World War I as an officer in the 85th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1918, and was decorated for bravery. He was promoted to commanding officer of the Nova Scotia Highlanders and pursued a career as a professional soldier in Canada's post-war army, rising to the rank of Colonel in 1924.
Ralston left the military and entered federal politics once again when he was unsuccessful as the Liberal candidate for Halifax in the 1926 federal election, held September 14.
Despite losing the general election, Ralston was appointed to the cabinet by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King and became the Minister of National Defence on October 8. Prime Minister King created a seat for Ralston by appointing the MP for Shelburne—Yarmouth, Paul Lacombe Hatfield, to the Senate, thus opening the riding for a by-election. Ralston won by acclaimation on November 2, 1926, entering the 16th Parliament.
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