Thomas William Bird | |
Constituency Mp: | Nelson |
Parliament: | Canadian |
Predecessor: | John Archibald Campbell |
Term Start: | 1921 |
Term End: | 1930 |
Birth Date: | May 4, 1883 |
Birth Place: | Killington, Westmorland, England, United Kingdom |
Death Place: | St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada |
Nationality: | British subject |
Party: | Progressive Party |
Occupation: | clergyman |
Thomas William Bird (May 4, 1883 - June 9, 1958) was a politician and clergyman. He was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in 1921 as a Member of the Progressive Party to represent the riding of Nelson. He was re-elected in 1925 and again in 1926 then defeated in 1930. He died a natural death late in his life.
Bird played an unexpectedly pivotal role in the King–Byng Affair, as he fell asleep during debate on a motion of non-confidence in the 13th Canadian Ministry, and when re-awakened accidentally voted against the government, resulting in the non-confidence motion being passed by a single vote and the government falling as a result.[1]