John Robert Nicholson

John Robert "Jack" Nicholson, PC OBE QC (December 1, 1901 – October 8, 1983) was a Canadian lawyer, businessman, politician and the 21st Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

The Honourable John Robert Nicholson PC OBE QC
Official 1966 portrait
21st Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
In office July 2, 1968 – February 13, 1973
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	Roland Michener
Premier	W. A. C. Bennett Dave Barrett
Preceded by	George Pearkes
Succeeded by	Walter Stewart Owen
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Vancouver Centre
In office June 18, 1962 – June 25, 1968
Preceded by	Douglas Jung
Succeeded by	Ron Basford
Personal details
Born	(1901-12-01)December 1, 1901 Newcastle, New Brunswick
Died	October 8, 1983(1983-10-08) (aged 81)
Political party	Liberal
Cabinet	Minister of Forestry (1963–1964) Postmaster General (1964–1965) Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (1965) Minister of Labour (1965–1968)

Born in Newcastle, New Brunswick (now Miramichi), he graduated from the Dalhousie University law school in Halifax. In 1924, he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia and practised law.

During World War II, he was a deputy controller in the Department of Munitions and Supplies. From 1942 to 1951, he was the head of a crown corporation, Polymer Corporation, and from 1952 to 1956, the head of Brazilian Light and Power Co in Rio de Janeiro.

In 1962, Nicholson was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the riding of Vancouver Centre and was re-elected in 1963 and 1965. From 1963 to 1964, he was the Minister of Forestry. From 1964 to 1965, he was the Postmaster General. In 1965, he was the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. From 1965 to 1968, he was the Minister of Labour.

From 1968 to 1973, he served as the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

Electoral history

v t e 1965 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Jack R. Nicholson	9,008	40.08	+0.75
	Progressive Conservative	Douglas Jung	6,248	27.80	−2.73
	New Democratic	Lyle Kristiansen	5,184	23.07	−1.13
	Social Credit	William John McIntyre	1,806	8.04	+2.10
	Independent Social Credit	James B. Wisbey	228	1.01	–
Total valid votes			22,474	100.0
	Liberal hold		Swing		+1.74

v t e 1963 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Jack R. Nicholson	9,472	39.33	+3.73
	Progressive Conservative	Douglas Jung	7,353	30.53	−0.94
	New Democratic	Margaret Erickson	5,826	24.19	+0.54
	Social Credit	Bevis Walters	1,430	5.94	−2.29
Total valid votes			24,081	100.0
	Liberal hold		Swing		+2.34

v t e 1962 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Jack R. Nicholson	7,697	35.61	+18.43
	Progressive Conservative	Douglas Jung	6,803	31.47	−29.95
	New Democratic	Margaret Erickson	5,113	23.65	+9.73
	Social Credit	F. George J. Hahn	1,779	8.23	+3.60
	Independent	Burton V. White	224	1.04	–
Total valid votes			21,616	100.0
	Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative		Swing		+24.19
Change for the New Democrats is based on the Co-operative Commonwealth.

External links

• Biography from the website of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
• John Robert Nicholson – Parliament of Canada biography

Political offices
Preceded by Martial Asselin	Minister of Forestry 1963–1964	Succeeded by Maurice Sauvé