18 Facts About Robert Forke

Robert Forke was elected as Member of Parliament for Brandon in 1921.

Robert Forke was born in Gordon in Berwickshire, Scotland, and was educated at public school in Westruther.

Robert Forke moved to Canada in 1882, and worked as a farmer.

Robert Forke was the reeve of Pipestone in Manitoba for twenty years before entering federal politics, and served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Union of Manitoba Municipalities for eleven years.

Robert Forke was initially a supporter of the Liberal Party of Canada, and campaigned for the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as a candidate of the provincial Liberal Party in a by-election held on January 9,1909.

Robert Forke lost to Harvey Simpson of the Conservative Party by 206 votes.

Robert Forke later became involved in the agrarian political movement, and joined the Progressive Party.

Robert Forke was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1921 election, defeating his Conservative and Liberal opponents in Brandon by a significant majority.

Robert Forke was named parliamentary Whip for the Manitoba Progressives in early 1922.

Robert Forke served as Progressive Party leader at a time when the party, which never had a strong central organization to begin with, was fragmenting into a series of smaller factions.

Robert Forke was personally re-elected in Brandon, though by a greatly reduced margin.

Robert Forke favoured cabinet representation for his party, but this was rejected by the Alberta wing.

Robert Forke was retained as Progressive house leader at a meeting in early 1926, although Alberta representative Henry Elvins Spencer was chosen as the new party secretary.

Robert Forke resigned as Progressive house leader on June 30,1926, one day after Mackenzie King resigned as Prime Minister.

Robert Forke was one of the seven Liberal-Progressives returned for Manitoba.

The alliance of the two parties was confirmed on September 25,1926, when Robert Forke was appointed Minister of Immigration and Colonization with the consent of the Liberal-Progressive caucus.

Robert Forke held this position for over three years, and was appointed by Mackenzie King to the Senate of Canada on December 30,1929.

Robert Forke served as a "Liberal-Progressive" Senator until his death in 1934.