Adam Crooks (politician)

Adam Crooks
Adam Crooks, 1872
Ontario MPP
In office 1875–1883
Preceded by	Adam Oliver
Succeeded by	George Atwell Cooke
Constituency	Oxford South
In office 1871–1874
Preceded by	John Wallis
Succeeded by	Robert Bell
Constituency	Toronto West
Personal details
Born	(1827-12-11)December 11, 1827 West Flamboro, Ontario
Died	December 28, 1885(1885-12-28) (aged 58) Hartford, Connecticut
Political party	Liberal
Occupation	Lawyer

Adam Crooks, QC (December 11, 1827 – December 28, 1885) was an Ontario Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Toronto West from 1871 to 1874 and moved to the riding of Oxford South from 1875 to 1886.

Background

Crooks was born in West Flamboro, Ontario and the son of James Crooks & Jane Cummings. He studied at Upper Canada College and the University of Toronto. During his time in Toronto, he studied law and was called to the bar in 1851. Crooks married Emily Ann C. Evans in 1857. Their child, Lawrence Ogden Crooks, was born in 1858. During the early 1860s, Adam Crooks successfully appealed a lower court decision against the Commercial Bank of Canada before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in England. In 1863, he was named Queen's Counsel. Near the end of his life, he suffered from problems with his physical and mental health and was forced to retire from public life. He died in Hartford, Connecticut.

Politics

He served as Attorney General from 1871 to 1872 and provincial treasurer from 1872 to 1877. Crooks played a major role in developing the 1876 liquor licence act, also known as the Crooks Act, which attempted to control the sale of alcohol within the province. He also served as the first Minister of Education in Ontario, appointed in 1876, after the retirement of Rev. Dr. Egerton Ryerson, who was Chief Superintendent.

Electoral history

1871 Ontario general election: Toronto West
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Adam Crooks	1,487	53.05	+10.31
	Conservative	John Wallis	1,316	46.95	−10.31
Turnout			2,803	51.84	−1.10
Eligible voters			5,407
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing		+10.31
Source: Elections Ontario

Ontario provincial by-election, January 1872: Toronto West Ministerial by-election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Adam Crooks	884	97.14	+44.09
	Independent	Mr. Harman	26	2.86
Total valid votes			910	100.0	−67.53
	Liberal hold		Swing		+44.09
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario

1875 Ontario general election: Toronto East
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Matthew Crooks Cameron	1,849	53.83	+1.27
	Liberal	Adam Crooks	1,579	45.97	−1.47
	Independent	R.M. Allen	7	0.20
Total valid votes			3,435	54.42	+2.16
Eligible voters			6,312
	Conservative hold		Swing		+1.37
Source: Elections Ontario

Ontario provincial by-election, September 1875: Oxford South Previous election voided
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal	Adam Crooks	1,612	54.39
	Conservative	B. Hopkins	1,352	45.61
Total valid votes			2,964
	Liberal hold		Swing		–
Source: History of the Electoral Districts, Legislatures and Ministries of the Province of Ontario

1879 Ontario general election: Oxford South
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Adam Crooks	1,775	66.73	+12.34
	Independent	Mr. Brown	835	31.39
	Independent	Mr. Markham	50	1.88
Total valid votes			2,660	48.33
Eligible voters			5,504
	Liberal hold		Swing		+12.34
Source: Elections Ontario

External links

• Stamp, Robert M. (1982). "Crooks, Adam". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. XI (1881–1890) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
• Adam Crooks – Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history (archive)