William Manley German (May 25, 1851 – March 31, 1933) was an Ontario barrister and political figure. He represented Welland in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1894 to 1900 and in the House of Commons of Canada from 1891 to 1892, from 1900 to 1917 and from 1921 to 1925 as a Liberal member.

William Manley German
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Welland
In office
1891–1892
Preceded byJohn Ferguson
Succeeded byJames A. Lowell
In office
1900–1917
Preceded byWilliam McCleary
Succeeded byEvan Eugene Fraser
In office
1921–1926
Preceded byEvan Eugene Fraser
Succeeded byGeorge Hamilton Pettit
MLA for Welland
In office
June 26, 1894 – April 30, 1900
Preceded byWilliam McCleary
Succeeded byJohn Franklin Gross
Personal details
Born(1851-05-25)May 25, 1851
Hillier Township, Prince Edward County, Canada West
DiedMarch 31, 1933(1933-03-31) (aged 81)
Political partyLiberal
Other political
affiliations
Ontario Liberal Party

He was born in Hillier Township, Prince Edward County, Canada West, the son of George German whose parents were United Empire Loyalists from New York state. He studied at Victoria College in Cobourg. German articled in law with Lewis Wallbridge in Belleville and then Edward Fitzgerald in Toronto. He was called to the bar in 1883 and set up practice in Welland. In 1885, he married Henrietta Aylmer Macdonald. German was deputy reeve for Welland in 1890. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1891 but unseated after an appeal. German resigned his seat in the provincial assembly in 1900 to sit in the federal parliament. He ran unsuccessfully in 1917 and 1926 for the Welland seat in the House of Commons.

German introduced legislation in the House of Commons to establish a bridge commission which led to the construction of the Peace Bridge between Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York; similar legislation had been introduced in the United States Congress and the New York State Legislature.[1] He was vice-president of the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Company established to build the bridge.

1917 Canadian federal election: Welland
Party Candidate Votes %
Government (Unionist) Evan Eugene Fraser 5,378 46.0
Opposition (Laurier Liberals) William Manly German 4,616 39.5
Labour James Arthur Hughes 1,704 14.6
Total valid votes 11,698 100.0
1911 Canadian federal election: Welland
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal William Manly German acclaimed
1908 Canadian federal election: Welland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Manly German 4,449 53.9 -3.6
Conservative George Hanan 3,806 46.1
Total valid votes 8,255 100.0
1904 Canadian federal election: Welland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Manly German 3,543 57.5 +5.4
Conservative Walter Upper 2,621 42.5
Total valid votes 6,164 100.0
1900 Canadian federal election: Welland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Manly German 2,777 52.1 +3.7
Conservative William McCleary 2,557 47.9 -3.7
Total valid votes 5,334 100.0

References

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