# Essex South (federal electoral district)

Essex South was a federal and provincial electoral district represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1882 to 1968. It was located in the province of Ontario. This riding was created in 1882 from parts of Essex riding.
It was created when the County of Essex was divided into two ridings: Essex North and Essex South. It initially consisted of the townships of Anderdon, Malden, North Colchester, South Colchester, Gosfield, Mersea, the town of Amherstburg, the villages of Leamington and Kingsville, and Pelée Island in the county of Essex.
In 1903, it was expanded to include the townships of Malden, Tilbury North, Tilbury West, Essex, and the portion of the village of Tilbury lying in the county of Essex. In 1914, it was expanded to include the village of Wheatley lying in the county of Essex.
In 1924, it was redefined to consist of the townships of Anderdon, Malden, Sandwich South, Colchester (North and South), Gosfield (North and South), Mersea and Pelee Island in the county of Essex, and the part of the village of Wheatley lying in the county of Kent. In 1933, it was expanded to exclude the township of Sandwich South, and the village of Wheatley. In 1947, it was redefined to include Pelee Island, Sandwich South, Tilbury West and the town of Essex, and exclude the village of Wheatley and the town of Tilbury.
In 1952, it was redefined to consist of the townships of Anderdon, Malden, Colchester (North and South), Gosfield (North and South), Mersea, Pelee Island, Sandwich South, Tilbury West and the town of Essex but excluding the village of Wheatley.
The electoral district was abolished in 1966 when it was redistributed between Essex and Essex—Kent ridings.

## Members of Parliament

This riding elected the following members of the House of Commons of Canada:
| Parliament | Years | Member | Party |
| Riding created from Essex |||||
| 5th | 1882–1887 | Lewis Wigle | Conservative |
| 6th | 1887–1891 | James Brien | Liberal |
| 7th | 1891–1896 | Henry William Allan | Liberal |
| 8th | 1896–1900 | Mahlon K. Cowan | Liberal |
| 9th | 1900–1904 | Mahlon K. Cowan | Liberal |
| 10th | 1904–1908 | Alfred Henry Clarke | Liberal |
| 11th | 1908–1911 | Alfred Henry Clarke | Liberal |
| 12th | 1911–1917 | Alfred Henry Clarke | Liberal |
| 13th | 1917–1921 | John Wesley Brien | Government (Unionist) |
| 14th | 1921–1921 | George Perry Graham | Liberal |
| 14th | 1922–1925 | George Perry Graham | Liberal |
| 15th | 1925–1926 | Eccles James Gott | Conservative |
| 16th | 1926–1930 | Eccles James Gott | Conservative |
| 17th | 1930–1935 | Eccles James Gott | Conservative |
| 18th | 1935–1940 | Murray Clark | Liberal |
| 19th | 1940–1945 | Murray Clark | Liberal |
| 20th | 1945–1949 | Murray Clark | Liberal |
| 21st | 1949–1953 | Murray Clark | Liberal |
| 22nd | 1953–1957 | Murray Clark | Liberal |
| 23rd | 1957–1958 | Richard Thrasher | Progressive Conservative |
| 24th | 1958–1962 | Richard Thrasher | Progressive Conservative |
| 25th | 1962–1963 | Eugene Whelan | Liberal |
| 26th | 1963–1965 | Eugene Whelan | Liberal |
| 27th | 1965–1968 | Eugene Whelan | Liberal |
| Riding dissolved into Essex and Essex—Kent |||||

## Election results
### Federal

1882 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Lewis Wigle | 1,475 |
| | Liberal | William McGregor | 1,415 |
1887 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | James Brien | 2,177 |
| | Conservative | Lewis Wigle | 2,144 |
1891 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Henry William Allan | 2,390 |
| | Conservative | Lewis Wigle | 2,333 |
1896 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Mahlon K. Cowan | 2,426 |
| | Conservative | S. A. King | 2,244 |
1900 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Mahlon K. Cowan | 2,539 |
| | Conservative | Lewis Wigle | 2,456 |
1904 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Alfred Henry Clarke | 3,193 |
| | Conservative | Lewis Wigle | 2,780 |
1908 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Alfred Henry Clarke | 3,334 |
| | Conservative | Darius Wigle | 2,611 |
1911 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Alfred Henry Clarke | 2,946 |
| | Conservative | William Frederick Park | 2,745 |
1917 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Government (Unionist) | John Wesley Brien | 3,645 |
| | Opposition (Laurier Liberals) | Robert Atkin | 3,476 |
1921 Canadian federal election :
| Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | George Perry Graham | 4,968 |
| Progressive | Thomas James Willan | 4,455 |
| Conservative | Eugene S. Scratch | 2,953 |
On Mr. Graham's being named Minister of Militia and Defence, 29 December 1921, and Minister of Naval Service, 29 December 1921:
By-election on 19 January 1922 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | George Perry Graham | acclaimed |
1925 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Eccles James Gott | 6,851 |
| | Liberal | George Perry Graham | 6,017 |
1926 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Eccles James Gott | 6,761 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Rowley | 6,438 |
1930 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Eccles James Gott | 8,261 |
| | Liberal | John Clarence Montgomery | 6,281 |
1935 Canadian federal election :
| Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | Murray Clark | 5,592 |
| Conservative | Eccles James Gott | 4,889 |
| Unknown | James Ramsey Morris | 2,563 |
1940 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Murray Clark | 7,624 |
| | National Government | Albert Leonard Bruner | 5,457 |
1945 Canadian federal election :
| Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | Murray Clark | 7,875 |
| Progressive Conservative | William D. Conklin | 7,540 |
| Co-operative Commonwealth | Edward Amos McGee | 574 |
1949 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Murray Clark | 10,427 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Fred Jasperson | 9,110 |
1953 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Murray Clark | 10,620 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Percy McKee | 7,420 |
1957 Canadian federal election :
| Candidate | Votes |
| Progressive Conservative | Richard Thrasher | 10,006 |
| Liberal | Robert M. Clark | 9,580 |
| Co-operative Commonwealth | E. Lee MacMillan | 775 |
| Social Credit | Edgar B. Charron | 311 |
1958 Canadian federal election :
| Candidate | Votes |
| Progressive Conservative | Richard Thrasher | 14,326 |
| Liberal | Thomas Charles Odette | 8,222 |
| Co-operative Commonwealth | George Haggar | 861 |
1962 Canadian federal election :
| Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | Eugene Whelan | 11,397 |
| Progressive Conservative | Richard Thrasher | 10,409 |
| New Democratic | Val Cervin | 1,342 |
| Unknown | Jack Backer | 284 |
1963 Canadian federal election :
| Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | Eugene Whelan | 12,947 |
| Progressive Conservative | Richard Thrasher | 12,178 |
| Social Credit | Jack Backer | 419 |
1965 Canadian federal election :
| Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | Eugene Whelan | 12,887 |
| Progressive Conservative | Richard Thrasher | 10,072 |
| New Democratic | Donald E. Bertrand | 1,329 |

### Provincial (partial)

vteOntario provincial by-election, December 2, 1993: Essex South :
| Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | Bruce Crozier | 12,736 |
| Progressive Conservative | Joan Flood | 3,295 |
| New Democratic | David Maris | 1,100 |
| Family Coalition | Joyce Ann Cherryr | 1,060 |
| Green | Michael Green | 132 |
| Independent | John Turmel | 84 |