Allen Bristol Aylesworth

Canadian politician

Sir Allen Bristol Aylesworth, (27 November 1854 – 13 February 1952) was a Canadian lawyer and parliamentarian.

Born in Newburgh, Canada West, of United Empire Loyalist ancestry, Aylesworth was educated at the University of Toronto, and called to the Ontario Bar in 1878. As the Canadian member of the Alaska Boundary Tribunal in 1903, he presented his country's views in a minority report. Elected to the Dominion parliament in 1905, he served in the cabinet of Sir Wilfrid Laurier as postmaster general and minister of labour, 1905–1906, and minister of justice, 1906–1911, in which capacity he oversaw the pardon of Angelina Napolitano, Canada's first battered woman defence case. He acted as British representative at the North Atlantic Fisheries Arbitration in The Hague, 1910–1911, and was knighted for his services. A Liberal, Aylesworth was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in a by election on 22 November 1905 and re elected in the 1908 as the Member of Parliament for the riding of York North in the province of Ontario. He served Cabinet of Canada under Sir Wilfrid Laurier as the Minister of Labour and Postmaster General of Canada from 16 October 1905 – 3 June 1906, and as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada from 4 June 1906 – 6 October 1911. On 11 January 1923 he was appointed to the Senate of Canada upon the recommendation of William Lyon Mackenzie King. He represented the senatorial division of North York, Ontario until his death.

Mount Aylesworth, aka Boundary Peak 177, a summit on the Alaska British Columbia boundary, was named for him in 1927.