BY JOHN A. PRESTON
Parliamentary historians remember William Paterson well. The Hamilton, Ontario native was first elected to Canada’s House of Common in 1872 and, outside of a two-month span in 1896 (during which he was defeated in his own riding before winning a by-election in another), he served continuously until 1911. It was an impressive run of public service, highlighted by 15 years spent as the country’s Minister of Customs.