Sir Richard John Cartwright

Sir Richard John Cartwright (born Dec. 4, 1835, Kingston, Upper Canada—died Sept. 24, 1912, Kingston, Ont., Can.) was a statesman and finance minister of Canada’s Liberal Party; he supported free trade between the United States and Canada, in opposition to the trade protectionism of the Conservatives. Already a successful businessman, Cartwright was elected to the Parliament of the united province of Canada as an independent Conservative in 1863. After the Dominion of Canada was created...