Robert Emmett Finn

Robert Emmett Finn (June 10, 1877 – February 23, 1951) was a lawyer and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Halifax County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1906 to 1922 and Halifax in the House of Commons of Canada from 1922 to 1925 and from 1936 to 1940 as a Liberal member.

He was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the son of John Finn and Mary Farrell, of Irish descent. Finn moved to Halifax while still young. He was educated at Dalhousie University, was called to the bar and set up practice in Halifax. In 1902, Finn married Anna Louise Russell. He served as president of the Charitable Irish Society. Finn was a war correspondent with the Canadian contingent during the Second Boer War in South Africa. He served as a minister without portfolio in the province's Executive Council from 1918 to 1922. He resigned his seat in the provincial assembly to run for a federal seat in 1922. Finn was defeated when he ran for reelection to the House of Commons in 1925 and 1940.

Electoral record

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1940 Canadian federal election: Halifax
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Elected
Liberal William Chisholm MacDonald 22,089 24.94   Green tickY
Liberal Gordon Benjamin Isnor 19,398 21.90 -6.28 Green tickY
National Government Richard A. Donahoe 18,197 20.54    
National Government Charles B. Smith 18,114 20.45    
Independent Liberal Robert Emmett Finn 9,217 10.41 -16.78  
Co-operative Commonwealth Helgi I.S. Borgford 1,561 1.76    
Total valid votes 88,576 100.00
Turnout ≥64.73 -6.13
Eligible voters 68,422
Liberal notional hold Swing -9.09
1935 Canadian federal election: Halifax
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Elected
Liberal Gordon Benjamin Isnor 24,158 28.18   Green tickY
Liberal Robert Emmett Finn 23,312 27.19   Green tickY
Conservative Robert D. Guilford 13,624 15.89    
Conservative Louis A. Gastonguay 13,250 15.45    
Reconstruction John Furlong 6,307 7.36    
Reconstruction John Joseph Power 5,091 5.94    
Total valid votes 85,742 100.00
Turnout ≥70.86 -5.82
Eligible voters 60,503
Liberal notional gain from Conservative Swing +14.63
Canadian federal by-election, 5 December 1923
Party Candidate Votes % Elected
Conservative William Anderson Black 13,365 53.90 Green tickY
Liberal George Alfred Redmond 11,433 46.10  
Total valid votes 24,798 100.00
Called upon Alexander Maclean's acceptance of an office of emolument
under the Crown, 2 November 1923

References

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  • Allison, David; Tuck, C.E. (1916). History of Nova Scotia. Vol. III. Halifax: A.W. Bowen & Co. pp. 106–107.
  • Robert Emmett Finn – Parliament of Canada biography