Thomas Baker McQuesten (June 30, 1882 – January 13, 1948) was a Canadian politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1934 to 1943 who represented the riding of Hamilton—Wentworth. He served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Mitchell Hepburn and Gordon Conant.

Background

McQuesten was born in Hespeler (now Cambridge, Ontario) in nearby Waterloo County, the youngest son of the five children of Isaac McQuesten and Mary Baker McQuesten. His father died from overdosing on sleeping pills leaving the family almost bankrupt

Although a fellow U of T student beat his application for a Rhodes scholarship, McQuesten continued his education at Osgoode Hall, also in Toronto. He received his LL.B. law degree and was admitted to the bar in 1907. He began practicing law as a prelude to a planned political career, serving in firms in Toronto, Elk Lake and Hamilton.

During his early adulthood, McQuesten served part-time in the militia. In 1902, he was in the Royal Canadian Artillery and in 1904 he was a military surveyor. When the First World War began, he wanted to enlist but his family pressured him not to.

thumb|350px|center|Thomas McQuesten cuts the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the [[Queen Elizabeth Way on August 23, 1940]]

Electoral politics

McQuesten served as an alderman between 1913 and 1920, and tirelessly promoted parks as chairman of the Works Committee.

After his death, the Hamilton High Level Bridge on York Boulevard was renamed Thomas B. McQuesten High Level Bridge. The structure was planned and built in the 1920s and '30s in conjunction with the North-Western Entrance to Hamilton program of the Board of Park Management, when he was most active on it. It spans the channel linking Cootes Paradise and the Desjardins Canal to Hamilton Harbour. The elegant bridge was designed by John M. Lyle.

His historic downtown family home was willed to the City of Hamilton after the death of the last of his five unmarried siblings in 1968. After its restoration was complete in 1971, Whitehern has been open as a civic museum and has occasionally served as a period film location. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1962.

The McQuesten neighbourhood in Hamilton is named after him. It is bounded by Barton Street East (north), Queenston Road (south), Parkdale Avenue North (west) and the Red Hill Valley Trail. Landmarks in this neighbourhood include the Red Hill Valley Parkway, Red Hill Valley Trail and Hillcrest Park.

McQuesten was awarded permanent, honorary membership at The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America in 1947, shortly before his death. The organization sought to recognize his work in overseeing the construction of the Rainbow Bridge, Rainbow Tower, and the tower's 55-bell carillon.

Thomas McQuesten is considered to be the founder of Royal Botanical Gardens (Ontario). Within RBG's headquarters building, RBG Centre, a large central foyer is named the T. B. McQuesten Theatre. A large plaque in the David Braley and Nancy Gordon Rock Garden also dedicates the garden to the memory of McQuesten. The formal Thomas Baker McQuesten Memorial is an elevated lookout platform along York Boulevard on RBG's Burlington Heights properties.

References

  • Whitehern archives
  • Thomas B. McQuesten family fonds, Archives of Ontario