Gerald Grattan McGeer (1888 - 1947)

Born 6 Jan 1888 in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Husband of Charlotte Emma (Spencer) McGeer — married 29 Nov 1917 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Died 11 Aug 1947 at age 59 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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Biography

Gerry McGeer is/was a significant British Columbian.

Gerald Grattan McGeer was a lawyer, populist politician, and monetary reform advocate. He served as the 22nd Mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in British Columbia, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Liberal Party of Canada, and in the Canadian Senate.

Family

Gerry was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 6 Jan 1888,^[1] the son of James McGeer and Emily Cooke.^[2][3] By 1889, they had moved west to British Columbia (birth of brother, James. By 1901, they were living in Vancouver, British Columbia.^[4] In 1911, they were living at 251 18th Ave.; Gerald was a law student.^[5]

Gerry married Charlotte Emma Spencer on 29 November 1917 in Victoria, British Columbia.^[2][6][3]

Census Records

Census of Canada, 1901

Vancouver City, Burrard, British Columbia

FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSS1-L8NT

Household: Name, Gender, Age, Relationship, Marital Status, Birth Date, Birthplace, Year of Immigration, Occupation

James McGen M, 42, Head, Married, 19 March 1859, [Ireland], 1884, Dairy Man

Emily McGen F, 39, Spouse, Married, 10 Aug 1861, England, 1884

Ninyas McGen F, 19, Daughter, Single, Nov 2 1881, [Ireland], 1884

Lucy McGen F, 17, Daughter, Single, Aug 28 1883, [Ireland], 1884

Gerald McGen M, 15, Son, Single, Jan 6 1885, Mb

James McGen M, 12, Son, Single, March 31 1889, British Columbia

Emily McGen F, 10, Daughter, Single, May 29 1890, British Columbia

Manfred McGen M, 8, Son, Single, Nov 29 1892, British Columbia

Eric McGen M, 7, Son, Single, April 7 1894, British Columbia

Dudley McGen M, 3, Son, Single, Dec 17 1897, British Columbia

Cathleen McGen F, 5, Daughter, Single, April 1 1890, British Columbia

Geraldine McGen F, 1, Daughter, Single, July 2 1899, British Columbia

Family name is hard to read but is probably McGeer.^[4]

Census of Canada, 1911

251 18th Ave. in New Westminster Sub-Districts 1-20, Richmond Riding, British Columbia

Household: Name, Gender, Relationship, Marital Status, Age, Birth Month\Year, Birthplace, Year of Immigration, Occupation

James McGee [McGeer] M, Head, Married, 55, Mar 1856, Ireland, 1883, Insurance (Life, Fire & Accident)

Emily C McGee [McGeer] F, Wife, Married, 53, Aug 1858, England, 1883

Rinyas McGee [McGeer] F, Daughter, Single, 28, Nov 1882, England, 1883

Lucy McGee [McGeer] F, Daughter, Single, 26, Aug 1884, Manitoba, School Teacher (Public School)

Gerald McGee [McGeer] M, Son, Single, 24, Jan 1887, Manitoba, Student (Law)

James McGee [McGeer] M, Son, Single, 20, Mar 1891, British Columbia, Student (Law)

Emily McGee [McGeer] F, Daughter, Single, 19, May 1892, British Columbia

Manfred McGee [McGeer] M, Son, Single, 17, Nov 1893, British Columbia

Eric McGee [McGeer] M, Son, Single, 16, Apr 1895, British Columbia, Student (Druggist)

Kathleen McGee [McGeer] F, Daughter, Single, 13, Apr 1898, British Columbia, Student (Civil Engineer)

Dudley McGee [McGeer] M, Son, Single, 12, Dec 1898, British Columbia

Geraldine McGee [McGeer] F, Daughter, Single, 10, Jul 1900, British Columbia

Aileen McGee [McGeer] F, Daughter, Single, 8, Aug 1902, British Columbia^[5]

Career

Gerald was elected mayor of Vancouver in 1934. His 2-year term was marked by: the riots of the unemployed, the On-To-Ottawa Trek, a serious waterfront strike, and the desperate plight of Vancouver citizens. His term also saw the highly successful Golden Jubilee Celebrations of 1936 and the construction of the new city hall.

He was an early proponent of monetary reform, mixing Keynesian economics with social credit theories.

He was elected to Parliament twice and appointed senator in 1945. He left federal politics and, after being re-elected mayor in 1947, died in office.

Death

Gerald (59) died in Vancouver, British Columbia on 11 Aug 1947; he had been the Chief magistrate for the City of Vancouver.^[3] He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burnaby, British Columbia.^[7]

Gravestone inscription:

Senator

G. G. McGeer

Jan. 6, 1888

Aug. 11, 1947^[7]

Research Notes

Birth:

Birth record: 6 Jan 1888

1901 census: Jan 6 1885

1911 census: Jan 1887

Death certificate: 6 Jan 1888.

Parents:

Birth record: mother Emily Cook

Marriage certificate: James McGeer and Emily Cooke

Death certificate: James McGeer and Emily Cook.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "Genealogy Searches for Unrestricted Records, Births," online database. Entry for Gerald Grattan McGeer; Registration Number: 1888,11112201, 06/01/1888, Winnipeg, Registration Date: 06/06/1927, Mother: Emily Cook. Manitoba Vital Statistics Agency (https://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/Query.php : accessed 2 Apr 2024).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Marriage: "British Columbia Marriage Registrations," online database with images. Entry for Gerald Gratton Mcgeer and Charlotte Emma Spencer; Registration Number: 1917-09-034885, Victoria, 1917-11-29, Groom's parents: James McGeer and Emily Cooke. Bride's parents: David Spencer and Emma Lazenby. Marriage certificate Royal British Columbia Museum: BC Archives (royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/genealogy : accessed 1 Sep 2022).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Death: "British Columbia Death Registrations," online database with images. Entry for Gerald Gratton McGeer; Registration Number: 1947-09-006980, Vancouver, 1947-08-11, Age at Death: 59, Birth 6 Jan 1888, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Spouse: Charlotte Emma Spencer, Parents: James McGeer and Emily Cook. Death certificate Royal British Columbia Museum: BC Archives (royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/genealogy : accessed 1 September 2022).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} 1901 Census: "Canada Census, 1901," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: KHVJ-XM6 : accessed 2 April 2024) FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSS1-L8NT, Gerald McGen (15), single son, in household of James McGen (42) in Burrard, British Columbia, Canada. Born on Jan 6 1885 in Mb; citing Page: 12; Digital film/folder number: 101692780; Image number: 640.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} 1911 Census: "Canada Census, 1911," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: QV9P-1SNQ : accessed 3 April 2024) FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L98W-QHWW, Gerald McGee, single son, in household of James McGee in New Westminster Sub-Districts 1-20, British Columbia, Canada. Born in Jan 1887 in Manitoba; citing Line: 14; Digital film/folder number: 007526717; FHL microfilm: 002417660; Image number: 986.
6. ↑ Marriage: "Canada, British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932; 1937-1938," database with images, citing Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, British Columbia Archives film number B11371, Vital Statistics Agency, Victoria; FHL microfilm 1,983,528, FamilySearch Record: JDZD-5KW (accessed 1 September 2022) FamilySearch Image: S3HT-6LV3-W4Y Image number 02817, Gerald Gratton Mcgeer (29) marriage to Charlotte Emma Spencer on 29 Nov 1917 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Memorial: "Find a Grave," database with images, (Find A Grave: Memorial #191362505 : accessed 3 April 2024), Memorial page for Gerald Grattan “Gerry” McGeer (6 Jan 1888-11 Aug 1947), citing Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Burnaby, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada (plot: Section: Memory Garden); Maintained by AKZ (contributor 47665021). Includes gravestone with birth and death dates. Gravestone inscription: "Senator G. G. McGeer Jan. 6, 1888 Aug. 11, 1947"

See also:

• The Conquest of Poverty by Gerald Grattan McGeer
• Wikipedia: Gerry McGeer
• Wikidata: Item Q5552889, en:Wikipedia
• Williams, David Ricardo. "Gerald Grattan McGeer." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published February 14, 2008; Last Edited December 15, 2013. (https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/gerald-grattan-mcgeer : accessed 3 Apr 2024).