16 Facts About James Ralston

James Ralston then became a partner in his uncle's law firm in 1903 and practised law in Amherst.

James Ralston subsequently entered public life when he ran as the provincial Liberal candidate for Cumberland and was elected in the 1911 provincial election.

James Ralston was wounded again in August 1918, this time by a sniper, at the Battle of Amiens, in which his brother Ivan, who was his second-in-command, was killed.

James Ralston lost his provincial seat in the 1920 election, then tried unsuccessfully to enter federal politics as the Liberal candidate for Halifax in the 1926 federal election.

James Ralston won by acclamation on November 2,1926, entering the 16th Parliament.

James Ralston served as Minister of National Defence until the defeat of King's government in the 1930 federal election but was re-elected and remained the MP for Shelburne-Yarmouth through the 17th Parliament, serving in His Majesty's Loyal Opposition.

James Ralston was appointed the Canadian delegate to the London Naval Conference 1935 that December, and he later sat on several Royal Commissions.

James Ralston was elected by acclamation on January 2,1940 and entered the 18th Parliament.

James Ralston supported conscription for overseas service during the Second World War, just as he did during the First World War.

James Ralston decided to personally investigate the issue by visiting Northwest Europe and Italy.

James Ralston reported to Cabinet that the situation was far worse than he had been led to believe; front-line infantry regiments were so short of manpower that wounded men were being pulled out of hospitals and sent back to the front lines.

King was convinced that there was a plot to "get me out" and that James Ralston had provoked the crisis to make himself Prime Minister.

James Ralston was replaced by Lieutenant-General Andrew McNaughton, who was opposed to sending the Zombies overseas.

James Ralston left politics the following year and died in Montreal in 1948.

In 1907, James Ralston married Nettie McLeod, from Amherst, whom he had known since childhood.

Stuart James Ralston later became a puisne judge of the Superior Court of Quebec.